Diurnal Variation Of Rainfall Research Articles

Seasonal variations in rain cells propagation over Central Africa and association with diurnal rainfall regimes

AbstractThree‐hourly data from two satellite rainfall estimates products, PERSIANN and TMPA, are analysed to document the seasonal patterns of diurnal rainfall distribution over the Congo Basin and neighbouring areas. PERSIANN data for 2001–2017, at a one‐hour time‐scale, are further used to identify rain cells (≥4 mm·h−1) in an attempt to explain the diurnal rainfall variations. Over land areas, an afternoon rainfall maximum is clearly shown, but over much of the region only a minor part of the rains (20%–30%) falls in the wettest 3‐h period. Substantial rains (often 50%–60%) occur in the evening and at night, as a progressively delayed peak from east to west, but a seasonal change is found in the meridional propagation of the peak diurnal rainfall, in a south‐westerly direction in January, and a north‐westerly direction in July. Rain cells have prominent genesis areas west of high terrain, but can develop over most regions, with a peak genesis time slightly ahead the diurnal phase of the rains. The size, mean lifetime and mean rainfall intensity of the rain cells are strongly related to each other and display a semi‐annual cycle not fully in phase with the seasonal cycle of the rains. The mean rain cell propagation speed (6.7 m·s−1) is much lower than in previous studies, which focused on mesoscale convective systems. Rain cells which have a longer lifetime move much faster, the mean speed of those lasting less than 6 h being half that of those lasting at least 24 h. Most (86%) of the mobile rain cells propagate westward, but the meridional component of their propagation shows an annual cycle (southward in austral summer, northward in boreal summer) which matches the mid‐tropospheric winds and explains the seasonal changes in the diurnal rainfall peak.

Diurnal variation of monsoon winds during the onset, active-break and withdrawal phases observed at its gateway in India: A case study of 2021

Diurnal variation of the low-level jet (LLJ) and tropical easterly jet stream (TEJ) over Cochin – the gateway of Indian summer monsoon – was investigated during the monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK), active-break, and withdrawal phases in the year 2021. Horizontal wind profiles obtained from the 205 MHz wind profiling radar at Cochin University of Science and Technology, India, were analyzed to delineate the core speed and core heights of the LLJ and TEJ. Distinct diurnal variability in wind patterns was observed during various monsoon phases. The LLJ and TEJ core speed and heights exhibited significant diurnal variations, with the LLJ reaching maximum diurnal amplitudes between 2.5 m s−1 (onset phase) and 0.5 m s−1 (break phase). Notably, the LLJ core speed during the break phase was approximately half of that during the active phase. The ratios of the diurnal range to the time mean LLJ core speed varied between 0.19 (active phase) and 1.33 (onset phase). Moreover, the LLJ core height is higher during active compared to break. Similarly, the TEJ core height at Cochin is marginally higher during active compared to that during break. Interestingly, an enhanced TEJ core speed and weakened LLJ were observed during the break phases. The variation of moisture flux exhibited positive correlation with the core speed with 2–3 h lag, significantly influencing the diurnal variability of rainfall. The causative factors behind the diurnal oscillations during various phases of the monsoon are discussed.

Prominent Impact of Diurnal Rainfall Variations on Evapotranspiration and Gross Primary Productivity in Forests over Low Latitudes

Rainfall amount and its variability on various time scales can significantly influence ecosystem evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary productivity (GPP). However, little attention has been paid to how ET and GPP respond to diurnal rainfall variations. Here we investigate the effect of diurnal rainfall variations on ET and GPP, based on data at 14 forest sites between 35°S-35°N from FLUXNET2015. Diurnal rainfall variations are represented by four indices. The timing of precipitation within one day is represented by the fraction of daytime precipitation (Frc) and the rainfall peaking time hrpeak. The frequency of precipitation (Freq) is expressed in hours with rainfall out of 24 hours on the day. An Unranked Gini index (UGi) is newly introduced to represent the unevenness of diurnal rainfall distribution in both timing and frequency. Our results illustrate prominent influences of diurnal rainfall variations on ET and GPP at the studied forest sites in lower latitudes. Given an amount of daily total precipitation, more daytime rainfall either in intensity or frequency (larger Frc or Freq), especially occurring around noon (shorter period from hrpeak), could lead to less daily total ET and GPP. More unevenly distributed rainfall being more away from noon (larger UGi) could result in more daily total ET and GPP. These influences become stronger with more daily total rainfall except for Freq. The regression coefficients of ET and GPP to UGi could reach 0.6, which is twice of Frc and hrpeak. During a rainfall, solar radiation, air temperature and vapor pressure deficit would decrease, leading to decreases in ET and GPP. The concurrent diurnal variations in rainfall and other meteorological variables drive changes in ET and GPP. Considering diurnal variations of rainfall in observations and models would be helpful to improve our understanding of atmosphere-biosphere interactions in the future.

Urbanization-Induced Diurnal Variation in Short-Duration Rainfall Events in Wuhan, China

Increasing of evidence suggests that rapid urbanization modifies precipitation and increases atmospheric instability in urban areas mainly due to urban heat island (UHI)-induced thermal effects and urban building-induced dynamic effects. However, few studies focus on the impact of urbanization on the diurnal variations in urban rainfall in terms of initiating time, frequency, amount, and intensity. Here, six years of hourly data from a relatively dense meteorological observation network in the Wuhan area in central China are used to quantify the issue of urbanization-induced diurnal variations in hourly rainfall and short-duration rainfall (SDR) events by comparing urban and surrounding rural stations during the summer dry period (13 July to 4 August), corresponding to hot weather with little rainfall and high evaporation. The results indicate that: (i) A higher frequency of hourly rainfall appears during night-time and afternoon over urban areas as compared to rural areas. The urban rainfall is more concentrated during the night-time; (ii) More and stronger urban SDR events are triggered during the night-time over urban areas, especially in terms of amount and intensity of rainfall events. A greater diurnal urban–rural difference in SDR events is detected than that in hourly mean rainfall; (iii) There is an enhancement in the night-time and afternoon urban SDR events when UHI intensity increases before they are initiated, and this is detectable in the frequency, amount, and intensity of SDR events. It is also found that the UHI-induced thermal effects are the main reason for the stronger nocturnal SDR events in Wuhan during the summer dry period, which is caused by increases in the convection current and water vapor flux convergence in the urban areas.

Forecasting tropical cyclone rainfall and flooding hazards and impacts

This review summarizes the rapporteur report on advances in monitoring and forecasting of rainfall associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) and its impact during 2014–18, as presented to the 10th International Workshop on TCs (IWTC-10) held in Bali, Indonesia during 5th – 9th December 2022. Major physical processes that can modulate TC rainfall distribution, including topography, storm motion, vertical wind shear, and intensity, along with the fundamental physics of rain bands and clouds as simulated by numerical models, diurnal variation of rainfall, and various synoptic and mesoscale features controlling the rainfall distribution are briefly discussed. Improvements to the dynamic core and physical processes in global models are providing useable forecasts nearly up to 7 days. This report also summarizes, some tools that have been developed to predict TC rainfall. Lately there is a tendency for operational forecasting centers to utilize multi-model ensemble systems for rainfall forecasting that demonstrate superior performance than individual models, ensemble members, or even single model ensembles. Major impacts include pluvial and fluvial floods, and landslides. The techniques developed by various forecasting centers to assist in predicting and communicating the impacts associated with these events are also presented in this report.

Diurnal Variation of Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Over Southern Hainan Island, China: The Role of Boundary Layer Inertial Oscillations Over Indochina Peninsula

AbstractIn June after the onset of the East Asian summer monsoon season, rainfall on the south side of Hainan Island (HNI) of China exhibits a trimodal pattern with an unusual peak near noon. A typical case of 20 June 2017 is chosen to analyze the mechanisms through a convection‐permitting simulation together with rainfall observations. Clockwise rotation in low‐level winds is found at and off the coast of south HNI, leading to maximum onshore southwesterly winds in the late morning that is closely linked to the diurnal variation of rainfall. The offshore diurnal variations of low‐level winds are tracked upstream and attributed to boundary layer inertial oscillations over the inland plain of Indochina Peninsula. In addition, a short wide gap comprised mostly of hills lower than 700 m is located across the higher Annamite Range along the east coast of the Peninsula, right upstream of HNI. Nocturnal boundary layer low‐level jet (LLJ) forming over the plain passes through the gap with significant acceleration due to gap channeling and downslope flow effects, reaching peak intensity off the Peninsula coast at around 09 local standard time (LST). The enhanced LLJ propagates downstream towards HNI and impinges on the mountains at around 12 LST when rainfall reaches peak there. As the inertial‐oscillation‐indued perturbation winds approaching the Island weaken and eventually reverse direction, lifting weakens and low‐level stability increases as descending motion develops offshore. Rainfall on the southern Island therefore dissipates in late afternoon.

A High‐Resolution Tropical Mesoscale Convective System Reanalysis (TMeCSR)

AbstractModern global reanalysis products have greatly accelerated meteorological research in synoptic‐to‐planetary‐scale phenomena. However, their use in studying tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and their regional‐to‐global impact has mostly been limited to supplying initial and boundary conditions for MCS‐resolving simulations and providing information about the large‐scale environments of MCSs. These limitations are due to difficulties in resolving tropical MCS dynamics in the relatively low‐resolution global models and that tropical MCSs often occur over poorly observed regions. In this work, a Tropical MCS‐resolving Reanalysis product (TMeCSR) was created over a region with frequent tropical MCSs. This region spans the tropical Indian Ocean, tropical continental Asia, Maritime Continent, and Western Pacific. TMeCSR is produced by assimilating all‐sky infrared radiances from geostationary satellites and other conventional observations into an MCS‐resolving regional model using the Ensemble Kalman Filter. The resulting observation‐constrained high‐resolution (9‐km grid spacing) data set is available hourly during the boreal summer (June‐August) of 2017, during which widespread severe flooding occurred. Comparisons of TMeCSR and European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast Reanalysis version 5 (ERA5) against independent satellite retrievals indicate that TMeCSR's cloud and multiscale rain fields are better than those of ERA5. Furthermore, TMeCSR better captured the diurnal variability of rainfall and the statistical characteristics of MCSs. Forecasts initialized from TMeCSR also have more accurate rain and clouds than those initialized from ERA5. The TMeCSR and ERA5 forecasts have similar performances with respect to sounding and surface observations. These results indicate that TMeCSR is a promising MCS‐resolving data set for tropical MCS studies.

Multi model forecast biases of the diurnal variations of intense rainfall in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Multi model forecast biases of the diurnal variations of intense rainfall in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Evaluation of Warm-Season Rainfall Diurnal Variation over the Qilian Mountains in Northwest China in ERA5 Reanalysis

On the basis of hourly rain-gauge data from 735 stations over the Qilian Mountains in Northwest China, the rainfall diurnal variation represented in ERA5 reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) was evaluated from May to October during 2012–2019. Results show that rainfall with intensities below 4 mm h−1 was mostly overestimated, while intensities above 4 mm h−1 were underestimated in ERA5. The most severe overestimation of weak precipitation occurs in the late afternoon, while heavy precipitation is mostly underestimated at night. Deviation in both heavy and weak precipitation is more evident in mountainous areas. The diurnal peak was reasonably reproduced for the rainfall events with durations shorter than 4 h, while the peak hour of events with longer duration showed evident bias. The positive (negative) deviations of short (long) duration rainfall events mainly appear in the late afternoon (night). Around the Qilian Mountains, where deviation is pronounced, the bias of afternoon short-duration events is influenced by higher-frequency precipitation, while the bias of long-duration events is related to the lower frequency of precipitation at night. In terms of the spatial distribution of precipitation with varied elevation, ERA5 fails to represent variation in weak and heavy precipitation with increasing elevation, which may be related to the deviation of surface-specific humidity in reanalysis. The results of this study imply the uncertainty of rainfall products by ERA5 over regions with complex topographic effects and provide metrics to evaluate rainfall products or forecasts over complex terrain area.

Diurnal rainfall cycle on small tropical island as seen by the 20 years half-hourly GPM-IMERG Satellite precipitation product

The diurnal rainfall cycle is one of the dominant factors causing the high variability of convection activity in the Indonesian Maritime Continent (IMC) and vulnerable to climate change. Research on diurnal rainfall cycles in small tropical islands (areas less than 6150 km2), such as in the IMC is important because of the lack of understanding of its characteristics. The aims of current study are to investigate spatial characteristics of the diurnal rainfall cycle over Bali and their surrounding islands using half-hourly rainfall that estimated from the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) for the period 2001-2020. Statistical scores employed to analyse the diurnal rainfall cycle characteristics is means analysis that done during year observation on long-term half-hourly and annually. The result of half-hourly IMERG rainfall estimation confirms for the first time that the rainfall in Bali contributes to the diurnal rainfall variability over the eastern part of Java Island. In Bali, rainfall start to initiate during 1200 local time (LT, +8 UTC) mostly began in high elevation located in the central part of the island, on the southern slopes of the mountain range. Rainfall over land continues to increase and slightly spread to the west until reaches its peak in 1400 LT. Rainfall began to depletion in the central of the island and at 1530 LT spread toward the western and merged with the existing rainfall in the east of Java Island. In the night (2200 LT), rainfall leaves Bali island towards the Bali strait and Bali sea.

Diurnal variations of rainfall affected by complex topography based on high-density observation in Chongqing over southwest China

Located in the eastern edge of the Sichuan Basin (SCB) in the southwest China, Chongqing is a mountainous region with typical complex topographic features. Using the hourly rainfall observation data of high-density 1686 meteorological stations in Chongqing during warm season from 2009 to 2016, we investigated the diurnal characteristics of precipitation affected by complex topography. The complex mountainous terrain has a significant impact on diurnal variations and distinct regional features of rainfall amount, frequency, and intensity. The stations located in the higher complex mountainous areas have greater rainfall amount, frequency, and intensity than those in the lower surrounding areas. In addition, the detailed characteristics of the rainfall amount and frequency in the four study regions further show that the rainfall amount and frequency significantly increase with the rise of elevation, especially in the area that terrain height sharply increases along the mountain extending direction. The diurnal variation of the rainfall amount is characterized by a bimodal structure with a dominant early-morning peak occurring at approximately 0700 LST (23 UTC) and a weaker secondary late-afternoon peak at approximately 1600 LST (08 UTC), while the rainfall frequency has a single early-morning peak. The terrain height has a significant impact on the proportions of the early-morning rainfall. With the elevation increasing in the four study regions, the proportions of rainfall amount (frequency) that occurs during early-morning period decrease.

Diurnal variations of different types of cloud over the Baiu–Meiyu frontal zone using retrieved cloud properties: Implication for the rainfall process

The diurnal variations of clouds and their relationships with the rainfall associated with the Baiu–Meiyu front in Eastern China and over the ocean in the south of Japan in June 2016–2019 are investigated with the cloud product retrieved from the infrared brightness temperature of the Himawari-8 satellite. Clouds are classified into three types: low (<3 km), middle (3–10 km), and high clouds (>10 km); high clouds are further divided into thin (0.1–1), moderately-thick (1–6), and thick (>6) clouds based on their cloud optical thickness. Prominent diurnal variations of high clouds were observed to have an evening-to-midnight maximum in Eastern China, an early-afternoon-to-evening maximum around the Ryukyu Islands, and an evening maximum around the Izu Islands. In Eastern China and around the Ryukyu Islands, there was a clear diurnal amplitude maximum of the thick cloud and the moderately-thick cloud. And the diurnal peak time of the thick cloud was 1–2 h later than the peak time of rainfall. Around the Izu Islands, a diurnal amplitude maximum of moderately-thick cloud was found. While for the thick cloud, its peak occurrence was found to be 4–6 h later than that of the rainfall. Our results suggest that the convective activity is highly related to the primary mode of the diurnal variation of rainfall and cloud in Eastern China and around the Ryukyu Islands. Meanwhile, it is less related to the diurnal variation of rainfall and cloud around the Izu Islands.

Influences of MJO on the Diurnal Variation and Associated Offshore Propagation of Rainfall near Western Coast of Sumatra

Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) plays an important role in modulating precipitation at Maritime Continent (MC) not only on a larger scale, but also in the diurnal cycle. Diurnal rainfall offshore propagation is one of the most evident features near coasts. This study investigates the impacts of MJO on diurnal rainfall and its offshore propagation at the western coast of Sumatra during boreal winters using ERA5 reanalysis. The real-time multivariate MJO (RMM) index was applied to locate the active MJO convection through eight different phases, in the western hemisphere and Africa in P8–P1, at the Indian Ocean in P2–P3, at MC in P4–P5, and the western Pacific Ocean in P6–P7. The rainfall characteristics, including the daily rate, the absolute and normalized diurnal variation amplitudes, and the strengths of diurnal offshore propagation, not only depend on active/inactive MJO stages but also vary under different MJO phases, through the combined modulations of large-scale backgrounds and local-scale land–sea circulations. The offshore rainfall propagation is associated with meso-large-scale gravity waves generated from land–sea thermal contrast and thus is affected by the radiation effect of cloud under different MJO phases. The stronger wave signals in P8–P1 and P6–P7 enhance the diurnal rainfall variation amplitudes away from the coast, while the strong coupling of moist convection with gravity waves contributes greatly to the diurnal rainfall cycle in P2–P3.

Extent of diurnal cycle of rainfall and its intra seasonal variation over coastal Tamil Nadu during north east monsoon season

The diurnal variation of north east monsoon rainfall of coastal Tamil Nadu represented by four coastal stations Chennai Nungambakkam (Nbk), Chennai Meenambakkam (Mbk), Nagapattinam (Npt) and Pamban (Pbn) was studied in detail based on hourly rainfall data of rainy days only, for the period 1 Oct-31 Dec for the 47/48 year period 1969-2016/2017. Mean Octet rainfall and its anomaly were computed for the 8 octets 00-03,…., 21-24 hrs of the day and the anomaly was tested for statistical significance. Various analysis for the individual months of Oct, Nov, Dec and the entire period Oct-Dec were separately conducted. The basic technique of evolutionary histogram analysis supplemented by harmonic analysis of octet mean rainfall anomaly was used to detect the diurnal cycle signal. Two indices named as diurnal variation of rainfall index and coefficient of mean absolute octet rainfall anomaly representing the intensity of diurnal variation in dimensionless numbers were defined, computed and interpreted.&#x0D; The analysis based on the above techniques revealed that the diurnal signal which shows an early morning maximum and late afternoon minimum of octet rainfall is well defined in Oct, decreases in Nov and further decreases in Dec for all the 4 stations. Though the diurnal variation manifests a well defined pattern in Dec the signal is not statistically significant in most cases. For Nbk and Mbk there is a weak secondary peak of octet rainfall anomaly occurring in the forenoon and afternoon respectively in Oct and Dec suggesting the presence of semi-diurnal variation of rainfall. Stationwise, the diurnal signal is most well defined for each month/season in Pbn followed by Npt, Nbk and then Mbk.&#x0D; &#x0D; The physical causes behind the diurnal signal and its decrease as the north east monsoon season advances from Oct to Dec have been deliberated. The well known feature of nocturnal maximum of oceanic convection influencing a coastal station with maritime climate and the higher saturation at the lower levels of the upper atmosphere in the early morning hours have been advanced as some of the causes. For the much more complex feature of decrease of diurnal signal with the advancement of the season, the decrease of minimum surface temperature over coastal Tamil Nadu from Oct to Dec causing an early morning conceptual land breeze has been shown as one of the plausible causes based on analysis of temperature and wind. Scope for further work based on data from automatic weather stations, weather satellites and Doppler Weather Radars has been discussed.

On the Diurnal Cycle of Heavy Rainfall over the Sichuan Basin during 10\u201318 August 2020

A sustained heavy rainfall event occurred over the Sichuan basin in southwest China during 10–18 August 2020, showing pronounced diurnal rainfall variations with nighttime peak and afternoon minimum values, except on the first day. Results show that the westward extension of the anomalously strong western Pacific subtropical high was conducive to the maintenance of a southerly low-level jet (LLJ) in and to the southeast of the basin, which favored continuous water vapor transport and abnormally high precipitable water in the basin. The diurnal cycle of rainfall over the basin was closely related to the periodic oscillation of the LLJ in both wind speed and direction that was caused by the combination of inertial oscillation and terrain thermal forcing. The nocturnally enhanced rainfall was produced by moist convection mostly initiated during the evening hours over the southwest part of the basin where high convective available potential energy with moister near-surface moist air was present. The convective initiation took place as cold air from either previous precipitating clouds from the western Sichuan Plateau or a larger-scale northerly flow met a warm and humid current from the south. It was the slantwise lifting of the warm, moist airflow above the cold air, often facilitated by southwest vortices and quasi-geostrophic ascent, that released the convective instability and produced heavy rainfall.

Diurnal Variation and Distribution of Short-Duration Heavy Rainfall in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region in Summer Based on High-Density Automatic Weather Station Data

The distribution and diurnal variation of short-duration heavy rainfall (SDHR) and the influence of a complex underlying surface were studied by using fine-scale hourly precipitation data in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region during the summers of 2014–2020. Areas prone to SDHR are located mainly in the southern foothills of the Yanshan Mountains, the foothills area, and the trumpet-shaped topographic entrance area north of Beijing, areas inland of the west coast of Bohai Bay, and the northern Beijing urban area. Owing to the influence of topography and the geographical location, the distribution and diurnal variation SDHR is significantly different in the western and northern mountainous areas, the foothills, and the plains. Compared to the underlying urban surface, the topography and the land–sea interface have considerable effects on the distribution of SDHR. A key finding is that the foothills of northern of Beijing, eastern slope and piedmont area of the Taihang Mountains, and the land–sea interface of Bohai Bay play important roles in the formation and propagation of SDHR.

Diurnal Variation of Rainfall in the Presence of Large- and Small-Scale Precipitating Systems during Different Monsoon Seasons over a Complex Terrain (Gadanki) Region

AbstractThe diurnal cycle of rainfall by large-scale systems (LSS) and small-scale systems (SSS) has been studied over a complex terrain region (Gadanki) in southern peninsular India using eight years of data from a network of 36 rain gauges. The diurnal cycle of accumulated rainfall by LSS and SSS shows peaks at 22 LT and 19 LT, respectively, during the southwest monsoon (SWM) and 19 LT and ~17 LT during the northeast monsoon (NEM). Irrespective of the season and system size, the diurnal mode is the dominant mode of variation and explains ~60% (~43%) of variance during the SWM and ~54% (~36%) during the NEM in LSS (SSS) presence. The correlation structure of rainfall is anisotropic with an axis ratio of ~1.5 for LSS and ~1.4 for SSS. Propagating systems are prevalent (80 to 90% of times produce rain) in the presence of LSS during both seasons and play a dominant role in altering the diurnal cycle of rainfall over the Gadanki region. The conducive environment, like the presence of large RH, updrafts in lower- and mid-troposphere, and large lower- and small mid-tropospheric shears, favors convective initiation and propagation of precipitating systems during LSS in SWM and NEM. The atmosphere favors the convective initiation between 18 and 20 LT. The dry mid-troposphere and weak upward motion in the mid-troposphere inhibits mesoscale organization and forms SSS during the SWM. During the NEM, somewhat drier mid-troposphere than in LSS and small L-shear inhibits the convective organization and forms SSS between 15 and 18 LT.

Diurnal Variations in Rainfall and Precipitation Asymmetry of Tropical Cyclones in the Northwest Pacific Region

AbstractThis study investigates diurnal variations of tropical cyclone precipitation in the northwest Pacific (NWP) region, including the South China Sea (SCS) and adjacent landmasses. Diurnal cycles of TC rainfall show significant land-sea contrasts. The primary peak of (unconditional) mean TC rain rate occurs in the early morning (06 LT) and the afternoon (15 LT) over the ocean and land, respectively. Both the total and heavy TC precipitation extend further inland in the afternoon, while nocturnal heavy TC rain is more confined to the coast. A significant semidiurnal cycle of TC precipitation is observed over the ocean, i.e., a secondary peak near 18 LT. The diurnal cycle of TC rainfall also depends on precipitation frequency, intensity, and radial distance from the TC center. Over the ocean, though TC precipitation intensity shows a pronounced diurnal cycle, its precipitation frequency exhibits virtually no diurnal variation. Over land, TC precipitation frequency markedly peaks in the afternoon (15 LT), while its precipitation intensity interestingly maximizes in the early morning (03-06 LT). Diurnal variations of TC asymmetric rainfall structure are consistent with diurnal changes of vertical wind shear. Over the SCS, maximum precipitation located in the downshear-left quadrant and is the most extensive in the morning. However, this heavy rain area shrinks and shifts downshear-ward in the afternoon, consistent with changes of the magnitude (reduced) and direction (clockwise) of shear. In contrast, TCs over the open ocean of NWP (OWP) have little diurnal variability of precipitation asymmetry, due mainly to a diurnally invariant shear environment.

Monitoring a tropical super cyclone Amphan over Bay of Bengal and nearby region in May 2020

A tropical super cyclone Amphan was formed over Bay of Bengal during third week of May in 2020 and caused devastating impact in West Bengal. Present study focuses on exploring this super cyclone using high resolution accurate precipitation estimates from multi-frequency satellite observations from Meteosat 8. It is reported that low pressure system formed over Bay of Bengal developed into a cyclonic storm on May 16 due to favourable atmospheric conditions. On May 18, this cyclonic storm intensified into a super cyclone with rainfall amount exceeding 600 mm/day. We have examined the diurnal variation of heavy rainfall over severely affected districts of West Bengal after cyclone made a landfall. Purba Medinipur, North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Hooghly and Howrah were most affected districts of the state. Heavy rainfall over few of these districts were in the range of 50–60 mm/h. Purba Medinipur recorded maximum rainfall of about 650 mm on May 20. Extreme rain events at multiple hours on May 20 resulted in heavy cumulative rainfall causing extreme flash flooding and landslides over these districts. Present study highlights the importance of usefulness of near real-time high-resolution satellite observations for exploring extreme events.

An observational study of the effects of aerosols on diurnal variation of heavy rainfall and associated clouds over Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei

Abstract. Our previous study found that the observed rainfall diurnal variation over Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei shows the distinct signature of the effects of pollutants. Here we used the hourly rainfall data together with satellite-based daily information of aerosols and clouds to further investigate changes in heavy rainfall and clouds associated with aerosol changes. Because of the strong coupling effects, we also examined the sensitivity of these changes to moisture (specific humidity) variations. For heavy rainfall, three distinguished characteristics are identified: earlier start time, earlier peak time, and longer duration; and the signals are robust using aerosol indicators based on both aerosol optical depth and cloud droplet number concentration. In-depth analysis reveals that the first two characteristics occur in the presence of (absorbing) black carbon aerosols and that the third is related to more (scattering) sulfate aerosols and is sensitive to moisture abundance. Cloud changes are also evident, showing increases in cloud fraction, cloud top pressure, the liquid/ice cloud optical thickness and cloud water path and a decrease in ice cloud effective radius; and these changes are insensitive to moisture. Finally, the mechanisms for heavy rainfall characteristics are discussed and hypothesized.