Comparison of Diurnal Variations in Precipitation Systems Observed by TRMM PR, TMI, and VIRS

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 4011-4028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munehisa K. Yamamoto ◽  
Fumie A. Furuzawa ◽  
Atsushi Higuchi ◽  
Kenji Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Time Shift ◽  
Mature Stage ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Near Surface

Abstract Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data during June–August 1998–2003 are used to investigate diurnal variations of rain and cloud systems over the tropics and midlatitudes. The peak time of the coldest minimum brightness temperature derived from the Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) and the maximum rain rate derived from the Precipitation Radar (PR) and the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) are compared. Time distributions are generally consistent with previous studies. However, it is found that systematic shifts in peak time relative to each sensor appeared over land, notably over western North America, the Tibetan Plateau, and oceanic regions such as the Gulf of Mexico. The peak time shift among PR, TMI, and VIRS is a few hours. The relationships among the amplitude of diurnal variation, convective frequency, storm height, and rain amount are further investigated and compared to the systematic peak time shifts. The regions where the systematic shift appears correspond to large amplitude of diurnal variation, high convective frequency, and high storm height. Over land and over ocean near the coast, the relationships are rather clear, but not over open ocean. The sensors likely detect different stages in the evolution of convective precipitation, which would explain the time shift. The PR directly detects near-surface rain. The TMI observes deep convection and solid hydrometeors, sensing heavy rain during the mature stage. VIRS detects deep convective clouds in mature and decaying stages. The shift in peak time particularly between PR (TMI) and VIRS varies by region.

scholarly journals On the Land–Ocean Contrast of Tropical Convection and Microphysics Statistics Derived from TRMM Satellite Signals and Global Storm-Resolving Models

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1425-1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshi Matsui ◽  
Jiun-Dar Chern ◽  
Wei-Kuo Tao ◽  
Stephen Lang ◽  
Masaki Satoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Microwave Scattering ◽  
Microwave Imager ◽  
Multiscale Modeling Framework

Abstract A 14-yr climatology of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) collocated multisensor signal statistics reveals a distinct land–ocean contrast as well as geographical variability of precipitation type, intensity, and microphysics. Microphysics information inferred from the TRMM Precipitation Radar and Microwave Imager show a large land–ocean contrast for the deep category, suggesting continental convective vigor. Over land, TRMM shows higher echo-top heights and larger maximum echoes, suggesting taller storms and more intense precipitation, as well as larger microwave scattering, suggesting the presence of more/larger frozen convective hydrometeors. This strong land–ocean contrast in deep convection is invariant over seasonal and multiyear time scales. Consequently, relatively short-term simulations from two global storm-resolving models can be evaluated in terms of their land–ocean statistics using the TRMM Triple-Sensor Three-Step Evaluation Framework via a satellite simulator. The models evaluated are the NASA Multiscale Modeling Framework (MMF) and the Nonhydrostatic Icosahedral Cloud Atmospheric Model (NICAM). While both simulations can represent convective land–ocean contrasts in warm precipitation to some extent, near-surface conditions over land are relatively moister in NICAM than MMF, which appears to be the key driver in the divergent warm precipitation results between the two models. Both the MMF and NICAM produced similar frequencies of large CAPE between land and ocean. The dry MMF boundary layer enhanced microwave scattering signals over land, but only NICAM had an enhanced deep convection frequency over land. Neither model could reproduce a realistic land–ocean contrast in deep convective precipitation microphysics. A realistic contrast between land and ocean remains an issue in global storm-resolving modeling.

Modeling the Effects of Lakes in the Tibetan Plateau on Diurnal Variations of Regional Climate and Their Seasonality

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 2523-2536
Author(s):  
Lingjing Zhu ◽  
Jiming Jin ◽  
Yimin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Surface Air Temperature ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Lake Model ◽  
Physically Based

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effects of lakes in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) on diurnal variations of local climate and their seasonal changes by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model coupled with a one-dimensional physically based lake model. We conducted WRF simulations for the TP over 2000–10, and the model showed excellent performance in simulating near-surface air temperature, precipitation, lake surface temperature, and lake-region precipitation when compared to observations. We carried out additional WRF simulations where all the TP lakes were replaced with the nearest land-use types. The differences between these two sets of simulations were analyzed to quantify the effects of the TP lakes on the local climate. Our results indicate that the strongest lake-induced cooling occurred during the spring daytime, while the most significant warming occurred during the fall nighttime. The cooling and warming effects of the lakes further inhibited precipitation during summer afternoons and evenings and motivated it during fall early mornings, respectively. This study lays a solid foundation for further exploration of the role of TP lakes in climate systems at different time scales.

Precipitation structure during the life cycle of cloud systems over Peru using satellite based observations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailenda Kumar ◽  
Yamina Silva ◽  
Carlos Del Castillo ◽  
Jose Luis Flores Rojas ◽  
Aldo Moya S. Alveraz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Rain Rate ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Mature Stage ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Cloud Systems ◽  
Freezing Level ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Raindrop Size Distribution ◽  
Raindrop Size

<p>In the present study, a unique approach is applied to investigate the life cycle properties of the precipitation combining the satellite-based information. Data from Global Precipitation Measurement Dual Precipitation Radar (GPM-DPR) and brightness temperature (BT) form the GOES satellite. First, we used the GPM-DPR data to identify the precipitating cloud systems (PCSs) and then 9 (± 4 hours) hours of GOES BT data to identify the life phases for a particular PCSs e.g., a developing stage, a mature stage, or a dissipating stage. The case study of PCS related to different phases of the PCSs shows that PCSs consist of different systematic properties including the area of convective-stratiform precipitation, the convective rain rate and the storm-top height. The developing stage PCSs have the highest convective precipitation fraction (~26%) with highest near surface rain rate (RR, 4.97 mm h-1), whereas the dissipating stage PCSs have the largest precipitation area (11489 km2) with least near surface convective RR (~4.11 mm h-1). The vertical structure of precipitation and raindrop size distribution (DSD parameters) show the different characteristics above and below the freezing level and related with the different microphysical processes during different stages and related with the convective to stratiform area fraction and water vapour. The developing stage PCSs have the largest but sparse, droplets in convective precipitation, whereas the mature stage has the largest droplets below in the freezing level for all the vertical rainy profiles. The developing stage PCSs have the highest concentration of least sized of hydrometeors. Also, north-eastern continent of SA has higher near surface RR with higher sized of hydrometeors and even higher in developing stage PCSs. Our analysis indicates that the different microphysical properties for the PCSs in different phases are related to cloud and ice water path upward motion and related to the orographic influence.</p>

scholarly journals Comprehensive Characteristics of Summer Deep Convection over Tibetan Plateau and Its South Slope from the Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guolu Gao ◽  
Quanliang Chen ◽  
Hongke Cai ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Zhenglin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Precipitation Measurement ◽  
South Slope ◽  
Global Precipitation Measurement ◽  
Global Precipitation

Observational data from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory during four summers (2014–2017) has been used to investigate deep convection systems (DCSs) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and its south slope (SS). The frequency, geographical distribution diurnal variation, and vertical structure of DCSs over the TP and SS are compared among these two regions. The frequency of DCSs over the SS (0.98%) was far higher than over the TP (0.15%), suggesting that stronger DCSs occur to the east and south of the TP. The maximum number of DCS occurred in July and August. A clear diurnal variation in DCS was found over the whole region, DCSs over the TP and SS both have a greatest amplitude in the afternoon. The probability of DCSs from 1200 to 1800 local time (LT) was 76.3% and 44.1% over TP and SS respectively, whereas the probability of DCSs being generated from 2200 (LT) to 0600 on the next day LT was 0.03% and 33.1% over the TP and SS respectively. There was a very low frequency of DCSs over the TP during the night. Five special echo top heights were used to investigate the vertical structure of DCSs. DCSs over the TP were both weaker and smaller than those over the SS.

scholarly journals Long-Term Simulations of Thermally Driven Flows and Orographic Convection at Convection-Parameterizing and Cloud-Resolving Resolutions

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1490-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Langhans ◽  
Juerg Schmidli ◽  
Oliver Fuhrer ◽  
Susanne Bieri ◽  
Christoph Schär
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Large Set ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Moist Convection ◽  
Shallow Convection ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Sensitivity Experiments

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to validate the representation of topographic flows and moist convection over the European Alps in a convection-parameterizing simulation (CPM; Δx = 6.6 km) and two cloud-resolving simulations (CRM; Δx = 1.1 and 2.2 km). All simulations and further sensitivity experiments are validated against a large set of observations for an 18-day fair-weather summer period. The episode considered is characterized by pronounced plain–valley pressure gradients, strong daytime upvalley flows, and weak nighttime down-valley flows. In addition, convective precipitation is recorded during the late afternoon and is preceded by a phase of shallow convection. The observed transition from shallow to deep convection occurs within a 3-h period. The results indicate good agreement between both CRMs and the observed diurnal evolution in terms of near-surface winds, cloud formation, and precipitation. The differences between the two CRMs are surprisingly small. In contrast, the CPM produces too-early peaks of cloud cover and precipitation that are due to a too-early activation of deep convection. Detailed sensitivity experiments show that the convection scheme, rather than the underresolved small-scale topography, is responsible for the poor performance of the CPM. In addition, observations and simulations show that late-morning mass convergence does not correlate with afternoon precipitation. Rather, it is found that enhanced convective activity is related to increased conditional instability.

scholarly journals Measurement Report: Determination of aerosol vertical features on different time-scales over East Asia based on CATS aerosol products

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueming Cheng ◽  
Tie Dai ◽  
Jiming Li ◽  
Guangyu Shi
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
East Asia ◽  
North China ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Near Surface

Abstract. The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar, on board the International Space Station (ISS), provides a new opportunity for studying aerosol vertical distributions, especially the diurnal variations from space observations. In this study, we investigate the seasonal variations and diurnal cycles of the vertical aerosol extinction coefficients (AECs) over East Asia by taking advantage of 32 months of the continuous and uniform aerosol measurements from the CATS lidar. Over the Tibetan Plateau, a belt of AECs approximately 6 km between 30° N and 38° N persistently exists in all seasons with an obviously seasonal variation. In summer, the aerosols at 6 km are identified as a mixture of both anthropogenic aerosols transported from India and coarse dust particles from Asian dust sources. In addition, the high AECs up to 8 km in summer over the Tibetan Plateau are caused by smoke aerosols from thermal dynamic processes. In fall and winter, the north slope of the plateau is continuously influenced by both dust aerosols and polluted aerosols transported upslope from the cities located in northwestern Asia at lower elevations. The diurnal variation of AECs in North China is mainly related to the diurnal variations of the transported dust and local polluted aerosols. Below 2 km, the AEC profiles in North China at 06:00 local Time (LT) and 12:00 LT are significantly higher than those at 00:00 LT and 18:00 LT, reaching the maximum at midday. The aerosol vertical profiles over the Tarim desert region in summer have obvious diurnal variations with the AECs at 12:00 LT and 18:00 LT being significantly higher than those at 00:00 LT and 06:00 LT, which are induced by the strongly diurnal variations in near-surface wind speeds. In addition, the peak of the AEC profiles has a significant seasonal variation, which is mainly determined by the boundary layer height.

scholarly journals Soil-atmosphere relationships: The Hungarian perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferenc Ács ◽  
Kálmán Rajkai ◽  
Hajnalka Breuer ◽  
Tamás Mona ◽  
Ákos Horváth
Keyword(s):  
Pannonian Basin ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Spatiotemporal Pattern ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Gas Exchanges ◽  
Boundary Layer Height ◽  
Soil Atmosphere

AbstractThis study discusses scientific contributions analyzing soil-atmosphere relationships. These studies deal with both the biogeophysical and biogeochemical aspects of this relationship, with biogeophysical aspects being in the majority. All of the studies refer either directly or indirectly to the fundamental importance of soil moisture content. Moisture has a basic influence on the spatiotemporal pattern of evapotranspiration, and so 1) on cloud formation and precipitation events by regulating the intensity of convection, and 2) on the trace-gas exchanges in the near-surface atmosphere. Hungarian modeling efforts have highlighted that soils in the Pannonian Basin have region-specific features. Consequently, shallow and deep convection processes are also, to some extent, region-specific, at least in terms of the diurnal change of the planetary boundary layer height and the spatial distribution of convective precipitation. The soil-dependent region-distinctiveness of these two phenomena has been recognized; at the same time the strength of the relationships has not yet been quantified.

scholarly journals The Phenomenon of Diurnal Variations for Summer Deep Convective Precipitation over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Its Southern Regions as Viewed by TRMM PR

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Jing Luo ◽  
Jianqiu Zheng ◽  
Lei Zhong ◽  
Chun Zhao ◽  
Yunfei Fu
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wind ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Precipitation Intensity ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
Diurnal Changes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Height Fields ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

This study analyzed the diurnal variations of summer deep convective precipitation (DCP) over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and its southern region. The results show that DCP is the main type of precipitation over the QTP. The precipitation intensity of DCP is less than 3 mm/h over the QTP, which is much lower than the precipitation intensity in non-plateau regions. DCP over non-plateau regions is related to the convergence of surface wind, but that over the QTP are not. The mean maximum echo of DCP is less than 26 dBZ over the QTP, less than in non-plateau regions. The mean altitude of maximum echo decreases from about 7.5 km in the western plateau to 6 km in the eastern plateau, while it reaches only 4.5–5 km in the non-plateau region. The DCP frequency peak occurs in the afternoon in the major area of the QTP including valley region. The peak time of DCP frequency is different from its intensity, and the former is 1 to 2 h earlier. Study also indicates strong diurnal variations in frequency, intensity, and the maximum echo over the QTP, which is consistent with diurnal changes of geopotential height fields of 500 hPa and 200 hPa.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Diurnal Variation of Upper Tropospheric Humidity in Reanalysis Using Homogenized Observed Radiances from International Geostationary Weather Satellites

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunheng Xue ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhenglong Li ◽  
Mathew M. Gunshor ◽  
Timothy J. Schmit
Keyword(s):  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Parameterization Schemes ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Upper Tropospheric Humidity ◽  
Cloud Parameterization

A near global dataset of homogenized clear-sky 6.5-μm brightness temperatures (BTs) from international geostationary (GEO) weather satellites has recently been generated and validated. In this study, these radiance measurements are used to construct the diurnal variation of upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) and to evaluate these diurnal variations simulated by five reanalysis datasets over the 45° N–45° S region. The features of the diurnal variation described by the new dataset are comparable with previous observational studies that a land–sea contrast in the diurnal variation of UTH is exhibited. Distinct diurnal variations are observed over the deep convective regions where high UTH exists. The evaluation of reanalysis datasets indicates that reanalysis systems still have considerable difficulties in capturing the observed features of the diurnal variation of UTH. All five reanalysis datasets present the largest wet biases in the afternoon when the observed UTH experiences a diurnal minimum. Reanalysis can roughly reproduce the day–night contrast of UTH but with much weaker amplitudes and later peak time over both land and ocean. Comparison of the geographical distribution of the diurnal variation shows that both ERA5 and MERRA-2 could capture the larger diurnal variations over convective regions. However, the diurnal amplitudes are widely underestimated, especially over convective land regions, while the phase biases are relatively larger over open oceans. These results suggest that some deficiencies may exist in convection and cloud parameterization schemes in reanalysis models.

scholarly journals Measurement Report: Determination of aerosol vertical features on different timescales over East Asia based on CATS aerosol products

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 15307-15322
Author(s):  
Yueming Cheng ◽  
Tie Dai ◽  
Jiming Li ◽  
Guangyu Shi
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
East Asia ◽  
North China ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Near Surface

Abstract. The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar, on board the International Space Station (ISS), provides a new opportunity for studying aerosol vertical distributions, especially the diurnal variations, from space observations. In this study, we investigate the seasonal variations and diurnal cycles in the vertical aerosol extinction coefficients (AECs) over East Asia by taking advantage of 32 months of continuous and uniform aerosol measurements from the CATS lidar. Over the Tibetan Plateau, a belt of AECs at approximately 6 km between 30 and 38∘ N persistently exists in all seasons with an obvious seasonal variation. In summer, the aerosols at 6 km are identified as a mixture of both anthropogenic aerosols transported from India and coarse dust particles from Asian dust sources. In addition, the high AECs up to 8 km in summer over the Tibetan Plateau are caused by smoke aerosols from thermal dynamic processes. In fall and winter, the northern slope of the plateau is continuously influenced by both dust aerosols and polluted aerosols transported upslope from cities located at lower elevations in northwestern Asia. The diurnal variation in AECs in North China is mainly related to the diurnal variations in the transported dust and local polluted aerosols. Below 2 km, the AEC profiles in North China at 06:00 and 12:00 CST (China standard time) are significantly higher than those at 00:00 and 18:00 CST, reaching a maximum at midday. The aerosol vertical profiles over the Tarim Desert region in summer have obvious diurnal variations, and the AECs at 12:00 and 18:00 CST are significantly higher than those at 00:00 and 06:00 CST, which are induced by the strong diurnal variations in near-surface wind speeds. In addition, the peak in the AEC profiles has a significant seasonal variation, which is mainly determined by the boundary layer height.

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