Altitudinal Precipitation Gradients in the Tropics from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar

被引:23
作者
Anders, Alison M. [1 ]
Nesbitt, Stephen W. [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Illinois, Dept Geol, Champaign, IL 61820 USA
[2] Univ Illinois, Dept Atmospher Sci, Urbana, IL 61820 USA
关键词
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION; NORTHEAST BRAZIL; COMPLEX TERRAIN; INDIAN MONSOON; VARIABILITY; CIRCULATION; SCALES;
D O I
10.1175/JHM-D-14-0178.1
中图分类号
P4 [大气科学(气象学)];
学科分类号
0706 ; 070601 ;
摘要
A Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) climatology shows variability in surface precipitation rate-elevation relationships across the tropics. Vertical profiles of radar reflectivity and profiles of specific humidity and cross-barrier moisture fluxes during precipitation events from the Interim European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis reveal four precipitation regimes with distinct precipitation mechanisms: 1) a tropical regime with a broad precipitation maximum at similar to 1500 m where convection is triggered by orographic lifting; 2) a trade winds regime with a near-sea level precipitation maximum dominated by forced ascent due to prevailing winds and the presence of dry air aloft; 3) a wet monsoon regime with a low-elevation precipitation maximum driven by efficient precipitation generation, large low-level cross-barrier moisture fluxes, and multiple convective modes; and 4) a dry monsoon regime with a high-elevation precipitation maximum reflecting intense convection and stratiform rain with a strong evaporation signature. In general, surface precipitation-elevation relationships across the tropics feature lower-elevation precipitation maxima relative to typical midlatitude regimes.
引用
收藏
页码:441 / 448
页数:8
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