Environmental Controls on MCS Lifetime Rainfall Over Tropical Oceans

Chen, Xingchao; Leung, L. Ruby; Feng, Zhe; Yang, Qiu

doi:10.1029/2023GL103267

Title: Environmental Controls on MCS Lifetime Rainfall Over Tropical Oceans

Journal Article · 09 August 2023 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103267 · OSTI ID:1994596

^[1];

^[2];

^[2]; Yang, Qiu ^[2]

Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science Center for Advanced Data Assimilation and Predictability Techniques The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Richland WA USA

Abstract Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) contribute a majority of rainfall over tropical oceans. However, our understanding of the environmental controls on tropical oceanic MCS precipitation remains incomplete. Using 20‐year of satellite observations, reanalysis data, and MCS tracking, we found that MCSs initiating in a mesoscale environment with enhanced lower‐free‐tropospheric moisture, warmer middle troposphere, stronger low‐level ascent, and stronger deep‐layer (surface‐400 hPa) wind shear tend to produce more precipitation during their lifetimes. While most of these environmental factors are correlated with one another, the deep‐layer shear is not. A rapid pickup in MCS lifetime rainfall is found when the lower‐free‐tropospheric specific humidity exceeds 10 g kg ⁻¹ . This nonlinearity is mostly dominated by the nonlinear increase in MCS area. On the other hand, both MCS area and rain rate increase quasi‐linearly with the deep‐layer shear. The increase in rain rate is related to the enhancement of heavy precipitating convective activity with deep‐layer shear.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1994596

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-189595; e2023GL103267

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 50; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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