Characteristics of Warm‐Season Mesoscale Convective Systems Over the Yangtze–Huaihe River Basin (YHR): Comparison Between Radar and Satellite

Abstract

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are crucial in modifying the water cycle and frequently induce high-impact weather events over eastern China. Radar and Climate Prediction Center (CPC)-4 km satellite-derived infrared cloud top temperature (Tb) data were used to thoroughly analyze the long-term climatology of MCSs over eastern China, particularly in the Yangtze–Huaihe River Basin (YHR) in the warm season from 2013 to 2018. For the first time, we contrasted the effects of data set selection and threshold setting on research outcomes. The large-scale environments of MCSs initiation were also investigated using the latest global reanalysis data ERA5. It is found that striction of thresholds, including duration, reflectivity/Tb, area, and linearity, would lead to a greater proportion of early-morning MCSs. Satellite-identified MCSs differed from radar-derived ones, exhibiting afternoon diurnal peaks, faster movement speeds, longer travel distances, and expansive impact areas. The center of MCS and related precipitation shifted northward from Pre-Meiyu to Post-Meiyu seasons, contributing to up to 20% of total rainfall, with most MCSs moving along eastward trajectories. MCSs typically had the most substantial impact in the Meiyu season because of the most prolonged duration, largest convective core area, and strongest precipitation intensity. Warm-season MCSs initiated ahead of midlevel troughs and were related to strong anomalous low-level convergence and midlevel upward. The circulation anomalies were the strongest in the Pre-Meiyu season among the three subseasons, with most moisture sourced from the southwest.