Abstract
The evolution of a heavy rainfall event occurred on 19 August 2014 in northern Taiwan is investigated with observed data and analyses from a newly-developed system named IBM_VDRAS, which is based on a four-dimensional Variational Doppler Radar Assimilation System (VDRAS) with the capability to assimilate radar observations and surface station data over a complex terrain by adopting the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM). This event possesses different precipitating processes and track from those frequently observed in that region.
From the surface observations and the high spatiotemporal resolution analysis fields generated by IBM_VDRAS, it is found that the rainfall process started with the initiation of two individual convective cells triggered through the interaction between land-sea breeze and terrain in two different cities (Taoyuan and Taipei). The outflow of one of the convective cells developed in Taoyuan City at an earlier time merged with another convective system which grew in Taipei Basin, and provided favorable conditions to intensify the latter. The enhanced major convective cell moved into the Taipei City metropolitan area and produced 80 mm of precipitation within approximately 2.5 h. The kinematic, thermodynamic, and microphysical fields of the convective cells are analyzed in details to explain the mechanisms which helped to maintain the structure of the rainfall system. Sensitivity experiments of quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) show that the terrains prevent the location of major rainfall from shifting outside of Taipei Basin. By assimilating surface data, the model can better predict the position of the rainfall.
