Zhiyong Meng1, Dan Yao1, Lanqiang Bai1, Yongguang Zheng2, Ming Xue3, Xiaoling Zhang2, Kun Zhao3, Fuyou Tian2, Mingjun Wang3
1 Laboratory for Climate and Ocean–Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of
Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
2 National Meteorological Center, Beijing 100081, China
3 School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University,
Corresponding to: zymeng@pku.edu.cn(Web Page)
ABSTRACT
Based on observational analyses and on-site ground and aerial damage surveys, this work aims to reveal the weather phenomena—especially the wind situation—when Oriental Star capsized in the Yangtze River on June 1, 2015. Results demonstrate that the cruise ship capsized when it encountered strong winds at speeds of at least 31 m/s near the apex of a bow echo embedded in a squall line. As suggested by the fallen trees within a 2-km radius around the wreck location, such strong winds were likely caused by microburst straight-line wind and/or embedded small vortices, rather than tornadoes.
Citation: Meng, Z., D. Yao, L. Bai, Y. Zheng, M. Xue, X. Zhang, K. Zhao, F. Tian, and M. Wang, 2016: Wind Estimation around the Shipwreck of the "Oriental Star" Based on Field Damage Survey and Radar Observaions, Science Bulletin,61(4),doi:10.1007/s11434-016-1005-2. (PDF) or http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11434-016-1005-2
