The Contribution of Mesoscale Convective Complexes to Rainfall across Subtropical South America

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 4590-4605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Durkee ◽  
Thomas L. Mote ◽  
J. Marshall Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Total Precipitation ◽  
Total Rainfall ◽  
La Plata Basin ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Precipitation Anomalies ◽  
Precipitation Analysis ◽  
Trmm 3B42

Abstract This study uses a database consisting of 330 austral warm-season (October–May) mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs) during 1998–2007 to determine the contribution of MCCs to rainfall across subtropical South America (SSA). A unique precipitation analysis is conducted using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42 version 6 data. The average MCC produces 15.7 mm of rainfall across 381 000 km2, with a volume of 7.0 km3. MCCs in SSA have the largest precipitation areas compared to North American and African systems. MCCs accounted for 15%–21% of the total rainfall across portions of northern Argentina and Paraguay during 1998–2007. However, MCCs account for larger fractions of the total precipitation when analyzed on monthly and warm-season time scales. Widespread MCC rainfall contributions of 11%–20% were observed in all months. MCCs accounted for 20%–30% of the total rainfall between November and February, and 30%–50% in December, primarily across northern Argentina and Paraguay. MCCs also produced 25%–66% of the total rainfall across portions of west-central Argentina. Similar MCC rainfall contributions were observed during warm seasons. An MCC impact factor (MIF) was developed to determine the overall impact of MCC rainfall on warm-season precipitation anomalies. Results show that the greatest impacts on precipitation anomalies from MCC rainfall were located near the center of the La Plata basin. This study demonstrates that MCCs in SSA produce widespread precipitation that contributes substantially to the total rainfall across the region.

scholarly journals The Role of Mesoscale Convective Complexes in Southern Africa Summer Rainfall

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1654-1668 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Blamey ◽  
C. J. C. Reason
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Southwest Indian Ocean ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Abstract A combination of numerous factors, including geographic position, regional orography, and local sea surface temperatures, means that subtropical southern Africa experiences considerable spatial and temporal variability in rainfall and is prone to both frequent flooding and drought events. One system that may contribute to rainfall variability in the region is the mesoscale convective complex (MCC). In this study, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data is used to document the precipitation produced by MCCs over southern Africa for the 1998–2006 period. Most of the rainfall associated with MCCs is found to occur over central Mozambique, extending southward to eastern South Africa. High precipitation totals associated with these systems also occur over the neighboring southwest Indian Ocean, particularly off the northeast coast of South Africa. MCCs are found to contribute up to 20% of the total summer rainfall (November–March) in parts of the eastern region of southern Africa. If the month of March is excluded from the analysis, then the contribution increases up to 24%. In general, the MCC summer rainfall contribution for most of the eastern region is approximately between 8% and 16%. Over the western interior and Botswana and Namibia, the MCC contribution is much less (<6%). It is also evident that there is considerable interannual variability associated with the contribution that these systems make to the total warm season rainfall.

Statistical Evaluation of Combined Daily Gauge Observations and Rainfall Satellite Estimates over Continental South America

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 533-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Vila ◽  
Luis Gustavo G. de Goncalves ◽  
David L. Toll ◽  
Jose Roberto Rozante
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
South America ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Daily Precipitation ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Time Algorithm ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Precipitation Analysis

Abstract This paper describes a comprehensive assessment of a new high-resolution, gauge–satellite-based analysis of daily precipitation over continental South America during 2004. This methodology is based on a combination of additive and multiplicative bias correction schemes to get the lowest bias when compared with the observed values (rain gauges). Intercomparisons and cross-validation tests have been carried out between independent rain gauges and different merging techniques. This validation process was done for the control algorithm [Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis real-time algorithm] and five different merging schemes: additive bias correction; ratio bias correction; TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis, research version; and the combined scheme proposed in this paper. These methodologies were tested for different months belonging to different seasons and for different network densities. All compared, merging schemes produce better results than the control algorithm; however, when finer temporal (daily) and spatial scale (regional networks) gauge datasets are included in the analysis, the improvement is remarkable. The combined scheme consistently presents the best performance among the five techniques tested in this paper. This is also true when a degraded daily gauge network is used instead of a full dataset. This technique appears to be a suitable tool to produce real-time, high-resolution, gauge- and satellite-based analyses of daily precipitation over land in regional domains.

Evaluation of TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) and Its Utility in Hydrologic Prediction in the La Plata Basin

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengge Su ◽  
Yang Hong ◽  
Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Hydrologic Model ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
La Plata ◽  
La Plata Basin ◽  
Precipitation Estimates ◽  
Precipitation Analysis ◽  
Rain Rates

Abstract Satellite-based precipitation estimates with high spatial and temporal resolution and large areal coverage provide a potential alternative source of forcing data for hydrological models in regions where conventional in situ precipitation measurements are not readily available. The La Plata basin in South America provides a good example of a case where the use of satellite-derived precipitation could be beneficial. This study evaluates basinwide precipitation estimates from 9 yr (1998–2006) of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA; 3B42 V.6) through comparison with available gauged data and the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) semidistributed hydrology model applied to the La Plata basin. In general, the TMPA estimates agreed well with the gridded gauge data at monthly time scales, most likely because of the monthly adjustment to gauges performed in TMPA. The agreement between TMPA and gauge precipitation estimates was reduced at daily time scales, particularly for high rain rates. The TMPA-driven hydrologic model simulations were able to capture the daily flooding events and to represent low flows, although peak flows tended to be biased upward. There was a good agreement between TMPA-driven simulated flows in terms of their reproduction of seasonal and interannual streamflow variability. This analysis shows that TMPA has potential for hydrologic forecasting in data-sparse regions.

scholarly journals Contribution of Extreme Convective Storms to Rainfall in South America

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Rasmussen ◽  
M. M. Chaplin ◽  
M. D. Zuluaga ◽  
R. A. Houze
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
High Resolution Data ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Convective Storms ◽  
La Plata ◽  
La Plata Basin

Abstract The contribution of extreme convective storms to rainfall in South America is investigated using 15 years of high-resolution data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR). Precipitation from three specific types of storms with extreme horizontal and vertical dimensions have been calculated and compared to the climatological rain. The tropical and subtropical regions of South America differ markedly in the influence of storms with extreme dimensions. The tropical regions, especially the Amazon basin, have aspects similar to oceanic convection. Convection in the subtropical regions, centered on La Plata basin, exhibits patterns consistent with storm life cycles initiating in the foothills of the Andes and growing into larger mesoscale convective systems that propagate to the east. In La Plata basin, convective storms with a large horizontal dimension contribute ~44% of the rain and the accumulated influence of all three types of storms with extreme characteristics produce ~95% of the total precipitation in the austral summer.

scholarly journals On the importance of cascading moisture recycling in South America

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 13337-13359 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Zemp ◽  
C.-F. Schleussner ◽  
H. M. J. Barbosa ◽  
R. J. van der Ent ◽  
J. F. Donges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
South America ◽  
Complex Network ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
South American ◽  
Total Precipitation ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
La Plata ◽  
Moisture Recycling ◽  
La Plata Basin

Abstract. Continental moisture recycling is a crucial process of the South American climate system. In particular, evapotranspiration from the Amazon basin contributes substantially to precipitation regionally as well as over other remote regions such as the La Plata basin. Here we present an in-depth analysis of South American moisture recycling mechanisms. In particular, we quantify the importance of cascading moisture recycling (CMR), which describes moisture transport between two locations on the continent that involves re-evaporation cycles along the way. Using an Eulerian atmospheric moisture tracking model forced by a combination of several historical climate data sets, we were able to construct a complex network of moisture recycling for South America. Our results show that CMR contributes about 9–10% to the total precipitation over South America and 17–18% over the La Plata basin. CMR increases the fraction of total precipitation over the La Plata basin that originates from the Amazon basin from 18–23 to 24–29% during the wet season. We also show that the south-western part of the Amazon basin is not only a direct source of rainfall over the La Plata basin, but also a key intermediary region that distributes moisture originating from the entire Amazon basin towards the La Plata basin during the wet season. Our results suggest that land use change in this region might have a stronger impact on downwind rainfall than previously thought. Using complex network analysis techniques, we find the eastern side of the sub-tropical Andes to be a key region where CMR pathways are channeled. This study offers a better understanding of the interactions between the vegetation and the atmosphere on the water cycle, which is needed in a context of land use and climate change in South America.

scholarly journals Applicability of TRMM Precipitation for Hydrologic Modeling in a Basin in the Northeast Brazilian Agreste

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Marcus Aurélio Soares Cruz ◽  
Leonardo Teixeira Rocha ◽  
Ricardo de Aragão ◽  
André Quintão de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Hydrologic Modeling ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Precipitation Regime ◽  
Total Rainfall ◽  
Northeast Region ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Trmm Precipitation ◽  
Trmm 3B42

Abstract Determining precipitation using remote sensing is gaining space in hydrologic studies, helping make up for the lack of data in many regions of Brazil. The products from satellite TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) are widely applied in studies in Brazil, but there are still few results about their applicability for hydrologic modeling in the Northeast Region, which is characterized by an irregular precipitation regime. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using the TRMM 3B42 V7 data for hydrologic modeling in the Japaratuba river basin in Sergipe at three timescales: daily, every ten days, and monthly. The comparative analysis between the rainfall data from rain gauges and TRMM did not indicate satisfactory adequacy at these studied scales, since the TRMM data underestimated the total rainfall for all stations used in the study. However, for the hydrologic modeling, acceptable values were obtained for the efficiency coefficients evaluated only for the ten-day and monthly scales.

scholarly journals Evaluating the TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis for Extreme Precipitation and Streamflow in Ganjiang River Basin, China

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Jiang ◽  
Zengxin Zhang ◽  
Yuhan Huang ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Sheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Extreme Precipitation ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Precipitation Data ◽  
Tropical Rainfall ◽  
Precipitation Estimation ◽  
Precipitation Analysis ◽  
Trmm 3B42 ◽  
Ganjiang River Basin

Based on the observed precipitation data and TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) 3B42 RTV7 and 3B42 V7 precipitation products from 2003 to 2010, the extreme precipitation and streamflow in the Ganjiang River basin were analyzed. The VIC hydrological model was used to simulate the streamflow driven by RTV7/V7 precipitation products in the Ganjiang River basin. The results show that (1) both of the RTV7 and V7 precipitation products have good applicability in precipitation estimation in the Ganjiang River basin and the correlation between the observed precipitation and RTV7 (V7) was as higher as 0.85 (0.86); (2) the RTV7/V7 precipitation products can well be used to simulate the streamflow by using the VIC hydrological model and the correlation between the observed streamflow and simulated streamflow driven by RTV7 (V7) products was as high as 0.86 (0.89); (3) the extreme precipitation varied greatly in the Ganjiang River basin and both of the RTV7 and V7 can capture the pattern of extreme precipitation in the Ganjiang River basin; however, higher extreme precipitation can be found in the northern Ganjiang River basin; (4) the extreme streamflow simulated driven by RTV7/V7 products agreed well with the observed extreme streamflow in the Ganjiang River basin. This study indicated that the TRMM 3B42 RTV7 and V7 products can be well used in the estimation of extreme precipitation and extreme streamflow.

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