scholarly journals Closing the Global Water Vapor Budget with AIRS Water Vapor, MERRA Reanalysis, TRMM and GPCP Precipitation, and GSSTF Surface Evaporation

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (24) ◽  
pp. 6307-6321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Wong ◽  
Eric J. Fetzer ◽  
Brian H. Kahn ◽  
Baijun Tian ◽  
Bjorn H. Lambrigtsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Surface Evaporation ◽  
Nasa Goddard Space ◽  
Intraseasonal Variations ◽  
Global Precipitation ◽  
Water Vapor Budget

Abstract The authors investigate if atmospheric water vapor from remote sensing retrievals obtained from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AIRS) and the water vapor budget from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) are physically consistent with independently synthesized precipitation data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) or the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) and evaporation data from the Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF). The atmospheric total water vapor sink (Σ) is estimated from AIRS water vapor retrievals with MERRA winds (AIRS–MERRA Σ) as well as directly from the MERRA water vapor budget (MERRA–MERRA Σ). The global geographical distributions as well as the regional wavelet amplitude spectra of Σ are then compared with those of TRMM or GPCP precipitation minus GSSTF surface evaporation (TRMM–GSSTF and GPCP–GSSTF P − E, respectively). The AIRS–MERRA and MERRA–MERRA Σs reproduce the main large-scale patterns of global P − E, including the locations and variations of the ITCZ, summertime monsoons, and midlatitude storm tracks in both hemispheres. The spectra of regional temporal variations in Σ are generally consistent with those of observed P − E, including the annual and semiannual cycles, and intraseasonal variations. Both AIRS–MERRA and MERRA–MERRA Σs have smaller amplitudes for the intraseasonal variations over the tropical oceans. The MERRA P − E has spectra similar to that of MERRA–MERRA Σ in most of the regions except in tropical Africa. The averaged TRMM–GSSTF and GPCP–GSSTF P − E over the ocean are more negative compared to the AIRS–MERRA, MERRA–MERRA Σs, and MERRA P − E.

scholarly journals Uncertainty Assessments of Satellite Derived Rainfall Products

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Kimani ◽  
Joost Hoedjes ◽  
Zhongbo Su
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Error Distributions ◽  
Precipitation Estimation ◽  
Scatter Plots ◽  
Global Precipitation

Accurate and consistent rainfall observations are vital for climatological studies in support of better planning and decision making. However, estimation of accurate spatial rainfall is limited by sparse rain gauge distributions. Satellite rainfall products can thus potentially play a role in spatial rainfall estimation but their skill and uncertainties need to be under-stood across spatial-time scales. This study aimed at assessing the temporal and spatial performance of seven satellite products (TARCAT (Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite and ground-based observations (TAMSAT) African Rainfall Climatology And Time series), Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM-3B43), Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Morphing (CMORPH), the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks- Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR), CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) and Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) using gridded (0.05o) rainfall data over East Africa for 15 years(1998-2012). The products’ error distributions were qualitatively compared with large scale horizontal winds (850 mb) and elevation patterns with respect to corresponding rain gauge data for each month during the ‘long’ (March-May) and ‘short’ (October-December) rainfall seasons. For validation only rainfall means extracted from 284 rain gauge stations were used, from which qualitative analysis using continuous statistics of Root Mean Squared Difference, Standard deviations, Correlations, coefficient of determinations (from scatter plots) were used to evaluate the products’ performance. Results revealed rainfall variability dependence on wind flows and modulated by topographic influences. The products’ errors showed seasonality and dependent on rainfall intensity and topography. Single sensor and coarse resolution products showed lowest performance on high ground areas. All the products showed low skills in retrieving rainfall during ‘short’ rainfall season when orographic processes were dominant. CHIRPS, CMORPH and TRMM performed well, with TRMM showing the best performance in both seasons. There is need to reduce products’ errors before applications.

scholarly journals The Precipitation Characteristics of ISCCP Tropical Weather States

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongmin Lee ◽  
Lazaros Oreopoulos ◽  
George J. Huffman ◽  
William B. Rossow ◽  
In-Sik Kang
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Surface Precipitation ◽  
Daily Data ◽  
Precipitation Characteristics ◽  
Dominant State ◽  
Tropical Weather ◽  
Tropical Hydrology ◽  
Global Precipitation

Abstract The authors examine the daytime precipitation characteristics of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) weather states in the extended tropics (35°S–35°N) for a 10-yr period. The main precipitation dataset used is the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis operational product 3B42 dataset, but Global Precipitation Climatology Project daily data are also used for comparison. It is found that the most convectively active ISCCP weather state (WS1), despite an occurrence frequency below 10%, is the most dominant state with regard to surface precipitation, producing both the largest mean precipitation rates when present and the largest percent contribution to the total precipitation of the tropics; yet, even this weather state appears to not precipitate about half the time, although this may be to some extent an artifact of detection and spatiotemporal matching limitations of the precipitation dataset. WS1 exhibits a modest annual cycle of the domain-average precipitation rate, but notable seasonal shifts in its geographic distribution. The precipitation rates of the other weather states appear to be stronger when occurring before or after WS1. The precipitation rates of the various weather states are different between ocean and land, with WS1 producing higher daytime rates on average over ocean than land, likely because of the larger size and more persistent nature of oceanic WS1s. The results of this study, in addition to advancing the understanding of tropical hydrology, can serve as higher-order diagnostics for evaluating the realism of tropical precipitation distributions in large-scale models.

scholarly journals Precipitation Seasonality over the Indian Subcontinent: An Evaluation of Gauge, Reanalyses, and Satellite Retrievals

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 631-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapna Rana ◽  
James McGregor ◽  
James Renwick
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Summer Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Satellite Retrievals ◽  
Global Precipitation

Abstract This paper evaluates the seasonal (winter, premonsoon, monsoon, and postmonsoon) performance of seven precipitation products from three different sources: gridded station data, satellite-derived data, and reanalyses products over the Indian subcontinent for a period of 10 years (1997/98–2006/07). The evaluated precipitation products are the Asian Precipitation–Highly-Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of the Water Resources (APHRODITE), the Climate Prediction Center unified (CPC-uni), the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP), the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) post-real-time research products (3B42-V6 and 3B42-V7), the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim). Several verification measures are employed to assess the accuracy of the data. All datasets capture the large-scale characteristics of the seasonal mean precipitation distribution, albeit with pronounced seasonal and/or regional differences. Compared to APHRODITE, the gauge-only (CPC-uni) and the satellite-derived precipitation products (GPCP, 3B42-V6, and 3B42-V7) capture the summer monsoon rainfall variability better than CFSR and ERA-Interim. Similar conclusions are drawn for the postmonsoon season, with the exception of 3B42-V7, which underestimates postmonsoon precipitation. Over mountainous regions, 3B42-V7 shows an appreciable improvement over 3B42-V6 and other gauge-based precipitation products. Significantly large biases/errors occur during the winter months, which are likely related to the uncertainty in observations that artificially inflate the existing error in reanalyses and satellite retrievals.

scholarly journals Spatio-Temporal Variations of Water Vapor Budget over the Tibetan Plateau in Summer and Its Relationship with the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 828
Author(s):  
Deli Meng ◽  
Qing Dong ◽  
Fanping Kong ◽  
Zi Yin ◽  
Yanyan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Warm Pool ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Southern Boundary ◽  
Pacific Warm Pool ◽  
Water Vapor Budget

The water vapor budget (WVB) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is closely related to the large-scale atmospheric moisture transportation of the surrounding mainland and oceans, especially for the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP). However, the procession linkage between the WVBs over the TP and its inner basins and IPWP has not been sufficiently elucidated. In this study, the relationship between the summer WVB over the TP and the IPWP was quantitatively investigated using reanalysis datasets and satellite-observed sea surface temperature (SST). The results show that: (1) the mean total summer vapor budget (WVBt) over the TP in the period of 1979–2018 was 72.5 × 106 kg s−1. Additionally, for the 13 basins within the TP, the summer WVB has decreased from southeast to northwest; the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin had the highest WVB (33.7%), followed by the Upper Yangtze River Basin, Ganges River Basin and Qiangtang Plateau. (2) For the past several decades, the WVBt over the TP has experienced an increasing trend (3.81 × 106 kg s−1 decade−1), although the southern boundary budget (WVBs) contributed the most and is most closely related with the WVBt, while the eastern boundary budget (WVBe) experienced a decreasing trend (4.21 × 106 kg s−1 decade−1) which was almost equal to the interdecadal variations of the WVBt. (3) For the IPWP, we defined a new warm pool index of surface latent heat flux (WPI-slhf), and found that an increasing WPI-slhf would cause an anticyclone anomaly in the equatorial western Indian Ocean (near 70° E), resulting in the increased advent of water vapor to the TP. (4) On the interdecadal scale, the correlation coefficients of the variation of the summer WVBt over the TP with the WPI-slhf and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) signal were 0.86 and 0.85, respectively (significant at the 0.05% level). Therefore, the warming and the increasing slhf of the IPWP would significantly contribute to the increasing WVB of the TP in recent decades.

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Variation of Precipitation in Greece and Surrounding Regions Based on Global Precipitation Climatology Project Data

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1349-1370 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hatzianastassiou ◽  
B. Katsoulis ◽  
J. Pnevmatikos ◽  
V. Antakis
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Precipitation Climatology ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Precipitation Decrease ◽  
Global Precipitation

Abstract In this study, the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation in the broader Greek area is investigated for the 26-yr period 1979–2004 by using monthly mean satellite-based data, with complete spatial coverage, taken from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP). The results show that there exists a clear contrast between the more rainy western Greek area (rainside) and the drier eastern one (rainshadow), whereas there is little precipitation over the islands, particularly in the southern parts. The computed long-term areal mean annual precipitation amount averaged for the study area is equal to P = 639.8 ± 44.8 mm yr−1, showing a decreasing trend of −2.32 mm yr−1 or −60.3 mm over the 26-yr study period, which corresponds to −9.4%. This decrease of precipitation, arising primarily in winter and secondarily in spring, is the result of a decreasing trend from 1979 through the 1980s, against an increase during the 1990s through the early 2000s, followed again by a decrease up to the year 2004. The performed analysis reveals an increasing trend of precipitation in the central and northern parts of the study region, contrary to an identified decreasing trend in the southern parts, which is indicative of threatening desertification processes in those areas in the context of climatic changes in the climatically sensitive Mediterranean basin. In addition, the analysis shows that the precipitation decrease is due to a corresponding decrease of maximum precipitation against rather unchanged minimum precipitation amounts. The analysis indicates that the changing precipitation patterns in the region during winter are significantly anticorrelated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index values, against a positive correlation during summer, highlighting thus the role of large-scale circulation patterns for regional climates. The GPCP precipitation data are satisfactorily correlated with instrumental measurements from 36 stations uniformly distributed over the study area (correlation coefficient R = 0.74 for all stations; R = 0.63–0.91 for individual stations).

scholarly journals Reprocessed, Bias-Corrected CMORPH Global High-Resolution Precipitation Estimates from 1998

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1617-1641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pingping Xie ◽  
Robert Joyce ◽  
Shaorong Wu ◽  
Soo-Hyun Yoo ◽  
Yelena Yarosh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Integration Algorithm ◽  
Satellite Precipitation ◽  
Precipitation Estimates ◽  
Global Precipitation

Abstract The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH) satellite precipitation estimates are reprocessed and bias corrected on an 8 km × 8 km grid over the globe (60°S–60°N) and in a 30-min temporal resolution for an 18-yr period from January 1998 to the present to form a climate data record (CDR) of high-resolution global precipitation analysis. First, the purely satellite-based CMORPH precipitation estimates (raw CMORPH) are reprocessed. The integration algorithm is fixed and the input level 2 passive microwave (PMW) retrievals of instantaneous precipitation rates are from identical versions throughout the entire data period. Bias correction is then performed for the raw CMORPH through probability density function (PDF) matching against the CPC daily gauge analysis over land and through adjustment against the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) pentad merged analysis of precipitation over ocean. The reprocessed, bias-corrected CMORPH exhibits improved performance in representing the magnitude, spatial distribution patterns, and temporal variations of precipitation over the global domain from 60°S to 60°N. Bias in the CMORPH satellite precipitation estimates is almost completely removed over land during warm seasons (May–September), while during cold seasons (October–April) CMORPH tends to underestimate the precipitation due to the less-than-desirable performance of the current-generation PMW retrievals in detecting and quantifying snowfall and cold season rainfall. An intercomparison study indicated that the reprocessed, bias-corrected CMORPH exhibits consistently superior performance than the widely used TRMM 3B42 (TMPA) in representing both daily and 3-hourly precipitation over the contiguous United States and other global regions.

scholarly journals Annual Variation of Midlatitude Precipitation

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 4291-4298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsing-Chang Chen ◽  
Wan-Ru Huang ◽  
Eugene S. Takle
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Storm Tracks ◽  
Water Vapor Flux ◽  
Vapor Flux ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Variation Patterns ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Global Precipitation

Abstract Annual variation of midlatitude precipitation and its maintenance through divergent water vapor flux were explored by the use of hydrological variables from three reanalyses [(NCEP–NCAR, ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA), and Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-1)] and two global precipitation datasets [Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) and Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP)]. Two annual variation patterns of midlatitude precipitation were identified:Tropical–midlatitude precipitation contrast: Midlatitude precipitation along storm tracks over the oceans attains its maximum in winter and its minimum in summer opposite to that over the tropical continents.Land–ocean precipitation contrast: The annual precipitation variation between the oceans and the continent masses exhibits a pronounced seesaw.The annual variation of precipitation along storm tracks of both hemispheres follows that of the convergence of transient water vapor flux. On the other hand, the land–ocean precipitation contrast in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes is primarily maintained by the annual seesaw between the divergence of stationary water vapor flux over the western oceans and the convergence of this water vapor flux over the eastern oceans during winter. The pattern is reversed during the summer. This divergence–convergence exchange of stationary water vapor flux is coupled with the annual evolution of upper-level ridges over continents and troughs over the oceans.

Observed Characteristics of the MJO Relative to Maximum Rainfall

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 2332-2354 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Benedict ◽  
David A. Randall
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Convective Transport ◽  
Maximum Rainfall ◽  
Tropospheric Heating ◽  
Cumulus Congestus ◽  
Global Precipitation

Abstract This study examines various dynamical and thermodynamical processes that characterize the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). Episodes of deep convection related to the MJO based on rainfall data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) are identified. Although broad convective envelopes are located utilizing spectrally filtered precipitation, analyses of the features within the envelopes are carried out using unfiltered rainfall and 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) fields. The events are composited and categorized based on geographic location and relative intensity. The composited fields illustrate that, prior to the onset of deep convection, shallow cumulus and cumulus congestus clouds are actively involved in vertical convective transport of heat and moisture. Drying, first accomplished immediately following deep convection in the lower troposphere, is associated with an enhanced horizontal (westerly) advective component and may be related to mesoscale processes. Drying related to deep-layer subsidence is delayed until one to two weeks following intense rainfall. The importance of gradual lower-tropospheric heating and moistening and the vertical transport of energy and moisture are shown in a comparison of vigorous and weak MJO events. Additionally, a comparison of the composite fields to proposed wave instability theories suggests that certain theories are effective in explaining specific phases of the disturbance, but no single theory can yet explain all aspects of the MJO. The discharge–recharge and frictional moisture convergence mechanisms are most relevant for explaining many of the observed features of MJO evolution.

scholarly journals Investigation of Precipitation Variations over Wet and Dry Areas from Observation and Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Trammell ◽  
Xun Jiang ◽  
Liming Li ◽  
Maochang Liang ◽  
Mao Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Global Precipitation Climatology Project ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Atmospheric Models ◽  
The Past ◽  
Dry Areas ◽  
Goddard Institute ◽  
Global Precipitation

Our observational study revealed that the precipitation increased over the wet area and decreased over the dry area during the past two decades. Here, we further investigate whether the current atmospheric models can quantitatively capture the characteristics of precipitation from the observation. The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) model is used to examine the historic simulation of the precipitation, in which the historic greenhouse gases and aerosols are included in the radiative forcing. The consistency between the historic GISS simulation and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) precipitation suggests that the model can qualitatively capture the temporal trends of precipitation over the wet and dry areas. However, the precipitation trends are weaker in the model than in the observation. The observed trends of precipitation do not appear in the control simulation with the fixed concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols, which suggests that the global warming due to anthropogenic forcing can influence the temporal variations of precipitation over the wet and dry areas. Diagnostic studies of other variables from the model further suggest that enhanced rising air can increase the precipitation over the wet area.

scholarly journals Comparative study of atmospheric water vapor budget associated with precipitation in Central US and eastern Mediterranean

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zangvil ◽  
P. J. Lamb ◽  
D. H. Portis ◽  
F. Jin ◽  
S. Malka
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Precipitable Water ◽  
Moisture Flux ◽  
Flux Divergence ◽  
Pronounced Difference ◽  
The Us ◽  
Water Vapor Budget

Abstract. Water vapor budget (WVB) analysis is a powerful tool for studying processes leading to precipitation (P), since the linkages among atmospheric dynamics, water vapor fields, surface conditions, and P are constrained by the moisture continuity equation. This paper compares WVB calculations over the US Midwest (MW), the US Southern Great Plains (SGP), and the eastern Mediterranean Sea (EM) during their seasons of maximum P. Despite the inter-regional differences in time of year, size of region, and surface characteristics, the WVBs over these regions have common features. First, the change in precipitable water (dPW) is highly correlated with the moisture flux divergence (MFD) and not evaporation (E), implying that atmospheric humidity is affected more by the large-scale atmospheric circulation than land-atmosphere interactions. Second, P is positively correlated with moisture inflow (IF/A). However, a pronounced difference exists between the North American and the Mediterranean study regions with respect to the processes associated with increased P. For the MW and the SGP, increased P is associated with moisture flux convergence (−MFD) due to increased IF/A. In contrast, increased P over the EM is not associated with −MFD, since both the outflow (OF/A) and IF/A increase at similar rates. Recycling ratio (R) estimates were calculated for each region using an equation previously developed. The moisture recycling methodology involves the externally advected versus locally evaporated contributions to P being expressed in terms of a "bulk" formulation in which IF/A and OF/A are defined at the boundaries of the study area. Due to its scale dependence, R cannot be directly compared among the different regions, and a normalization procedure was developed for this comparative study. Its results suggest the normalized R ranges between 12-25% for the study regions, with the value for the oceanic EM being somewhat larger than over the continental MW and SGP.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document