Precipitation correlation between convective available potential energy, convective inhibition and saturation fraction in middle latitudes

Abstract

Saturation fraction (SF), convective inhibition (CIN) and convective available potential energy (CAPE) are discussed to see with which of these parameters' precipitation rate is better correlated in the middle latitudes. The study is based on measurements from 20 European stations for the period of 1972–2009. We also use the results of the Global Forecasting System (GFS) model to see how mentioned parameters behave in numerical models.Our research results indicate that CAPE is not a good measure of precipitation rate for all latitudes, although, in model results, CAPE and precipitation rate are found to be better correlated for middle latitudes then in higher latitudes and tropical regions. The best correlation with precipitation rate in middle latitudes is one with SF. Our results suggest that moisture is underestimated in numerical models for middle latitudes and encourage further work in including SF or similar parameter into precipitation parameterization in addition to the current one.