On the relationship between precipitation extreme and local temperature over eastern China based on convection permitting simulations: roles of different moisture processes and precipitation types

Journal Article · 21 October 2024 · Climate Dynamics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-024-07467-w · OSTI ID:2478843

Dai, Guoqing ^[1]; Yang, Ben  ^[1]; Huang, Danqing ^[1]; Yang, Zhao ^[2]; Tang, Jian ^[3]; Qian, Yun ^[2]; Zhang, Yaocun ^[1]

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1. Nanjing Univ. (China)
2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
3. National Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration, Beijing (China)

The Clausius–Clapeyron (CC) scaling, which indicates a roughly 7% increase in saturated water vapor per 1 °C increase in temperature, can serve as a strong constraint linking the intensity of precipitation extremes and local temperature. However, the relationship between precipitation extreme and local temperature (referred to as the PE-T relationship) does not always follow the CC scaling and is highly dependent on climate regimes. In this study, we investigated the impacts of different moisture processes and precipitation types on the PE-T relationship over eastern China during the summertime based on convection-permitting model simulations. Consistent with observations, the simulated intensity of precipitation extremes increases with temperature at a rate close to CC (double-CC) scaling below (above) 20 °C. When the temperature exceeds 25 °C, precipitation intensity starts to drop. Precipitation extremes are mainly contributed by the stratiform, MCS (i.e., mesoscale convective system) convective, and non-MCS convective precipitation at low (< 20 °C), medium (20–25 °C), and high (> 25 °C) temperatures, respectively, suggesting that the double-CC scaling occurs when convective types become dominant, while the negative scaling at high temperatures is attributed to the reduced horizontal scale of convection. Corresponding to the reduced intensity of precipitation at high temperatures, there are stronger divergence and subsidence in the low-level atmosphere, which is probably caused by the net cooling associated with the enhanced melting and evaporation of falling hydrometeors due to the lower relative humidity in the low-level atmosphere. Overall, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the temperature dependence of precipitation extremes in eastern China.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 2478843
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA--206128
• Journal Information: Climate Dynamics, Journal Name: Climate Dynamics Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 62; ISSN 0930-7575
• Publisher: Springer-VerlagCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English