Abstract
Abstract. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model was used to simulate the diurnal variation in summer precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) at a cloud-resolving scale. Compared with the TRMM, precipitation data shows that the model can well simulate the diurnal rainfall cycle with an overall late-afternoon maximum precipitation in the central TP and a nighttime maximum in the southern edge. The simulated diurnal variations in regional circulation and thermodynamics are in good correspondence with the precipitation diurnal cycles in the central and southern edge of TP, respectively. A possible mechanism responsible for the nocturnal precipitation maximum in the southern edge has been proposed, indicating the importance of the TP in regulating the regional circulation and precipitation.
Highlights
The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has crucial influences on the Asian monsoon climate and global climate system
Based on the observations of Liu et al (2009), the present study investigated the capability of a cloud-resolving model (CRM) in simulating the diurnal variation in summer precipitation over the TP
We investigated the diurnal variation in summer precipitation over the TP using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 3.3 at a resolution of 3 km
Summary
The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has crucial influences on the Asian monsoon climate and global climate system. Numerous studies (e.g., Dai, 2001; Nesbitt and Zipser, 2003; Hirose and Nakamura, 2005) have demonstrated that summer precipitation over land regions has significant diurnal variation and usually reaches the maximum in the lateafternoon. The very recent study of Liu et al (2009) using the TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis product with high spatial and temporal resolutions reveal that summer rainfall over the TP has a significant diurnal variation. Based on the observations of Liu et al (2009), the present study investigated the capability of a cloud-resolving model (CRM) in simulating the diurnal variation in summer precipitation over the TP. The high-resolution simulation by the CRM is used to explore the dynamics of the diurnal cycle in TP regions with complex topographies and heterogeneous land surfaces
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
