Spatiotemporal Variations of Precipitation in Bangladesh Revealed by Nationwide Rain Gauge Data

Abstract

Bangladesh is under the strong influence of the South Asian monsoon. Extensive damages caused by frequent severe flood events in this country call for a study of nationwide precipitation climatology. Here, we examine spatiotemporal variations of precipitation in Bangladesh using rain gauge data at 35 stations for the period 2003–2016. The annual precipitation amount in Bangladesh is 2263 mm, and it shows large spatial variations. The annual precipitation amount is large in the southeastern coastal region of the country and the region close to the Meghalaya Plateau, and it is small in the west central region. 17% and 73% of the annual precipitation amount are observed in the pre-monsoon season (March to May) and monsoon season (June to September), respectively. The pattern of the diurnal variation of precipitation differs depending on regions of Bangladesh. In the northern region of the country, the precipitation maximum occurs in the late night to early morning in both the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The late night to early morning maximum of precipitation is associated with the large horizontal convergence of low-level water vapor flux. The Himalaya Mountains and the Meghalaya Plateau together with more nighttime moisture transport due to the strengthened nighttime low-level wind seem to play roles in enhancing nighttime precipitation. In the southwestern region of the country, the precipitation maximum is observed in the early evening in the pre-monsoon season, which is associated with the large convective instability in the afternoon, and it is observed in the early afternoon in the monsoon season. In the southeastern region of the country, the diurnal variability of precipitation is smallest in the pre-monsoon season compared with other regions of the country in the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons and the precipitation maximum occurs in the late night to early morning in the monsoon season.