scholarly journals Tracking mesoscale convective systems in central equatorial Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 469-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam T. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Central Equatorial Africa

Synoptic Wave Perturbations and Convective Systems over Equatorial Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 6372-6388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanh Nguyen ◽  
Jean-Philippe Duvel
Keyword(s):  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Kelvin Wave ◽  
Equatorial Atlantic ◽  
Periodic Behavior ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Abstract Spectral analysis of the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) time series over equatorial Africa reveals large oscillations of the convection with periods of between 3 and 6 days. In March and April, when the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) migrates northward and crosses equatorial Africa, this periodic behavior is most pronounced with a marked peak at 5–6 days. Robust horizontal and vertical patterns, consistent with a convectively coupled Kelvin wave, can be extracted by a simple composite technique based only on the phase of the convective oscillations over equatorial Africa. The composite reveals differences between continental and adjacent oceanic regions. Over the continent, the stronger oscillation of the convection is associated with larger temperature and moisture anomalies near the surface, suggesting an influence of diabatic processes on the amplitude of the perturbations. Some convective events over equatorial Africa are triggered by waves propagating eastward over the equatorial Atlantic. However, this cannot explain the robust periodic behavior observed over equatorial Africa because the convective variability over the Amazon basin and the equatorial Atlantic have different spectral characteristics with no marked peak at 5–6 days in March and April. The mesoscale convective systems embedded in these synoptic disturbances are studied using satellite brightness temperature at higher spatial (0.5°) and temporal (3 h) resolution than the OLR (respectively, 2.5° and daily average). The diurnal and the wave modulations of occurrence, size, and life cycle of the mesoscale convective systems are inspected. These systems are generated preferentially over the western slopes of the Rift Valley highlands. They propagate west-southwestward over the Congo basin where they reach their maximum size. The 5–6-day perturbations do not modify the diurnal triggering of convective systems notably, but the perturbations do modify their development into larger organized convection, especially over the Congo basin. The implication of these results for understanding the physical source of these 5–6-day perturbations is discussed.

scholarly journals Mesoscale Convective Systems over Western Equatorial Africa and Their Relationship to Large-Scale Circulation

2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 1272-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Jackson ◽  
Sharon E. Nicholson ◽  
Douglas Klotter
Keyword(s):  
Diurnal Cycle ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
The Right

Abstract This study examines mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over western equatorial Africa using data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. This region experiences some of the world’s most intense thunderstorms and highest lightning frequency, but has low rainfall relative to other equatorial regions. The analyses of MCS activity include the frequency of occurrence, diurnal and annual cycles, and associated volumetric and convective rainfall. Also evaluated is the lightning activity associated with the MCSs. Emphasis is placed on the diurnal cycle and on the continental-scale motion fields in this region. The diurnal cycle shows a maximum in MCS count around 1500–1800 LT, a morning minimum, and substantial activity during the night; there is little seasonal variation in the diurnal cycle, suggesting stationary influences such as orography. Our analysis shows four maxima in MCS activity, three of which are related to local geography (two orographic and one over Lake Victoria). The fourth coincides with a midtropospheric convergence maximum in the right entrance quadrant of the African easterly jet of the Southern Hemisphere (AEJ-S). This maximum is substantially stronger in the September–November rainy season, when the jet is well developed, than in the March–May rainy season, when the jet is absent. Lightning frequency and flashes per MCS are also greatest during September–November; maxima occur in the right entrance quadrant of the AEJ-S. The lightning maximum is somewhat south of the MCS maximum and coincides with the low-lying areas of central Africa. Overall, the results of this study suggest that large-scale topography plays a critical role in the spatial and diurnal patterns of convection, lightning, and rainfall in this region. More speculative is the role of the AEJ-S, but this preliminary analysis suggests that it does play a role in the anomalous intensity of convection in western equatorial Africa.

A five-year climatological lightning characteristics of linear mesoscale convective systems over North China

2021 ◽  
Vol 256 ◽  
pp. 105580
Author(s):  
Dongxia Liu ◽  
Mengyu Sun ◽  
Debin Su ◽  
Wenjing Xu ◽  
Han Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North China ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

scholarly journals An Observational Study of Mesoscale Convective Systems with Heavy Rainfall over the Korean Peninsula

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyung Woo Kim ◽  
Dong Kyou Lee
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Korean Peninsula ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Abstract A heavy rainfall event induced by mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurred over the middle Korean Peninsula from 25 to 27 July 1996. This heavy rainfall caused a large loss of life and property damage as a result of flash floods and landslides. An observational study was conducted using Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) data from 0930 UTC 26 July to 0303 UTC 27 July 1996. Dominant synoptic features in this case had many similarities to those in previous studies, such as the presence of a quasi-stationary frontal system, a weak upper-level trough, sufficient moisture transportation by a low-level jet from a tropical storm landfall, strong potential and convective instability, and strong vertical wind shear. The thermodynamic characteristics and wind shear presented favorable conditions for a heavy rainfall occurrence. The early convective cells in the MCSs initiated over the coastal area, facilitated by the mesoscale boundaries of the land–sea contrast, rain–no rain regions, saturated–unsaturated soils, and steep horizontal pressure and thermal gradients. Two MCSs passed through the heavy rainfall regions during the investigation period. The first MCS initiated at 1000 UTC 26 July and had the characteristics of a supercell storm with small amounts of precipitation, the appearance of a mesocyclone with tilting storm, a rear-inflow jet at the midlevel of the storm, and fast forward propagation. The second MCS initiated over the upstream area of the first MCS at 1800 UTC 26 July and had the characteristics of a multicell storm, such as a broken areal-type squall line, slow or quasi-stationary backward propagation, heavy rainfall in a concentrated area due to the merging of the convective storms, and a stagnated cluster system. These systems merged and stagnated because their movement was blocked by the Taebaek Mountain Range, and they continued to develop because of the vertical wind shear resulting from a low-level easterly inflow.

Precipitation charge and size measurements in the stratiform region of two mesoscale convective systems

1995 ◽  
Vol 100 (D8) ◽  
pp. 16341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monte G. Bateman ◽  
W. David Rust ◽  
Bradley F. Smull ◽  
Thomas C. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Stratiform Region ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Lake-effect rains over Lake Victoria and their association with Mesoscale Convective Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon E. Nicholson ◽  
Douglas Klotter ◽  
Adam T. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Lake Effect ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Strong Convection ◽  
Short Rains ◽  
Lake Catchment

AbstractThis article examined rainfall enhancement over Lake Victoria. Estimates of over-lake rainfall were compared with rainfall in the surrounding lake catchment. Four satellite products were initially tested against estimates based on gauges or water balance models. These included TRMM 3B43, IMERG V06 Final Run (IMERG-F), CHIRPS2, and PERSIANN-CDR. There was agreement among the satellite products for catchment rainfall but a large disparity among them for over-lake rainfall. IMERG-F was clearly an outlier, exceeding the estimate from TRMM 3B43 by 36%. The overestimation by IMERG-F was likely related to passive microwave assessments of strong convection, such as prevails over Lake Victoria. Overall, TRMM 3B43 showed the best agreement with the "ground truth" and was used in further analyses. Over-lake rainfall was found to be enhanced compared to catchment rainfall in all months. During the March-to-May long rains the enhancement varied between 40% and 50%. During the October-to-December short rains the enhancement varied between 33% and 44%. Even during the two dry seasons the enhancement was at least 20% and over 50% in some months. While the magnitude of enhancement varied from month to month, the seasonal cycle was essentially the same for over-lake and catchment rainfall, suggesting that the dominant influence on over-lake rainfall is the large-scale environment. The association with Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) was also evaluated. The similarity of the spatial patterns of rainfall and MCS count each month suggested that these produced a major share of rainfall over the lake. Similarity in interannual variability further supported this conclusion.

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