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A Global High‐Resolution Mesoscale Convective System Database Using Satellite‐Derived Cloud Tops, Surface Precipitation, and Tracking

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD034202· OSTI ID:1779929
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [3]
  1. Division of Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USA
  2. Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
  3. State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences Beijing China
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Abstract

A new methodology is developed to construct a global (60°S–60°N) long‐term (2000–2019) high‐resolution (∼10‐km h) mesoscale convective system (MCS) database by tracking MCS jointly using geostationary satellite infrared brightness temperature ( T b ) and precipitation feature (PF) characteristics from the Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for GPM precipitation data sets. Independent validation shows that the satellite‐based MCS data set is able to reproduce important MCS statistics derived from ground‐based radar network observations in the United States and China. We show that by carefully considering key PF characteristics in addition to T b signatures, the new method significantly improves upon previous T b ‐only methods in detecting MCSs in the midlatitudes for all seasons. Results show that MCSs account for over 50% of annual total rainfall across most of the tropical belt and in selected regions of the midlatitudes, with a strong seasonality over many regions of the globe. The tracking database allows Lagrangian aspects such as MCS lifetime and translational speed and direction to be analyzed. The longest‐lived MCSs preferentially occur over the subtropical oceans. The land MCSs have higher cloud‐tops associated with more intense convection, and oceanic MCSs have much higher rainfall production. While MCSs are observed in many regions of the globe, there are fundamental differences in their dynamic and thermodynamic structures that warrant a better understanding of processes that control their evolution. This global database provides significant opportunities for observational and modeling studies of MCSs, their characteristics, and roles in regional and global water and energy cycles, as well as their hydrologic and other impacts.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
NONE; AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1779929
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 126; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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