scholarly journals Retrieval of the vertical evolution of the cloud effective radius from the Chinese FY-4 (Feng Yun 4) next-generation geostationary satellites

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 1131-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yilun Chen ◽  
Guangcan Chen ◽  
Chunguang Cui ◽  
Aoqi Zhang ◽  
Rong Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Lookup Table ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Cloud Cluster ◽  
Vertical Evolution ◽  
Microphysical Processes

Abstract. The vertical evolution of the cloud effective radius (Re) reflects the precipitation-forming process. Based on observations from the first Chinese next-generation geostationary meteorological satellites (FY-4A, Feng Yun 4), we established a new method for objectively obtaining the vertical temperature vs. Re profile. First of all, Re was calculated using a bispectral lookup table. Then, cloud clusters were objectively identified using the maximum temperature gradient method. Finally, the Re profile in a certain cloud was then obtained by combining these two sets of data. Compared with the conventional method used to obtain the Re profile from the subjective division of a region, objective cloud-cluster identification establishes a unified standard, increases the credibility of the Re profile, and facilitates the comparison of different Re profiles. To investigate its performance, we selected a heavy precipitation event from the Integrative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment in summer 2018. The results showed that the method successfully identified and tracked the cloud cluster. The Re profile showed completely different morphologies in different life stages of the cloud cluster, which is important in the characterization of the formation of precipitation and the temporal evolution of microphysical processes.

scholarly journals Retrieval of the vertical profile of the cloud effective radius from the Chinese FY-4 next-generation geostationary satellite

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yilun Chen ◽  
Guangcan Chen ◽  
Chunguang Cui ◽  
Aoqi Zhang ◽  
Rong Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Lookup Table ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Cloud Cluster ◽  
Microphysical Processes

Abstract. The vertical profile of the cloud effective radius (Re) reflects the precipitation-forming process. Based on observations from the first of the Chinese next-generation geostationary meteorological satellites (FY-4A), we established a new method for objectively obtaining the vertical temperature vs Re profile. Re was calculated using a bi-spectrum lookup table and cloud clusters were objectively identified using the maximum temperature gradient method. The Re profile in a certain cloud was then obtained by combining these two sets of data. Compared with the conventional method used to obtain the Re profile from the subjective division of a region, objective cloud cluster identification establishes a unified standard, increases the credibility of the Re profile and facilitates the comparison of different Re profiles. To investigate its performance, we selected a heavy precipitation event from the Integrative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment in summer 2018. The results showed that the method successfully identified and tracked the cloud cluster. The Re profile showed completely different morphologies in different life stages of the cloud cluster, which is important in the characterization of the formation of precipitation and the temporal evolution of microphysical processes.

scholarly journals Assimilating X- and S-Band Radar Data for a Heavy Precipitation Event in Italy

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1727
Author(s):  
Valerio Capecchi ◽  
Andrea Antonini ◽  
Riccardo Benedetti ◽  
Luca Fibbi ◽  
Samantha Melani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Event ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Heavy Precipitation Event ◽  
The Town

During the night between 9 and 10 September 2017, multiple flash floods associated with a heavy-precipitation event affected the town of Livorno, located in Tuscany, Italy. Accumulated precipitation exceeding 200 mm in two hours was recorded. This rainfall intensity is associated with a return period of higher than 200 years. As a consequence, all the largest streams of the Livorno municipality flooded several areas of the town. We used the limited-area weather research and forecasting (WRF) model, in a convection-permitting setup, to reconstruct the extreme event leading to the flash floods. We evaluated possible forecasting improvements emerging from the assimilation of local ground stations and X- and S-band radar data into the WRF, using the configuration operational at the meteorological center of Tuscany region (LaMMA) at the time of the event. Simulations were verified against weather station observations, through an innovative method aimed at disentangling the positioning and intensity errors of precipitation forecasts. A more accurate description of the low-level flows and a better assessment of the atmospheric water vapor field showed how the assimilation of radar data can improve quantitative precipitation forecasts.

scholarly journals Joint Occurrence of Daily Temperature and Precipitation Extreme Events over Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 2148-2162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara Tencer ◽  
Andrew Weaver ◽  
Francis Zwiers
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Daily Minimum Temperature ◽  
Daily Maximum Temperature ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Joint Occurrence

AbstractThe occurrence of individual extremes such as temperature and precipitation extremes can have a great impact on the environment. Agriculture, energy demands, and human health, among other activities, can be affected by extremely high or low temperatures and by extremely dry or wet conditions. The simultaneous or proximate occurrence of both types of extremes could lead to even more profound consequences, however. For example, a dry period can have more negative consequences on agriculture if it is concomitant with or followed by a period of extremely high temperatures. This study analyzes the joint occurrence of very wet conditions and high/low temperature events at stations in Canada. More than one-half of the stations showed a significant positive relationship at the daily time scale between warm nights (daily minimum temperature greater than the 90th percentile) or warm days (daily maximum temperature above the 90th percentile) and heavy-precipitation events (daily precipitation exceeding the 75th percentile), with the greater frequencies found for the east and southwest coasts during autumn and winter. Cold days (daily maximum temperature below the 10th percentile) occur together with intense precipitation more frequently during spring and summer. Simulations by regional climate models show good agreement with observations in the seasonal and spatial variability of the joint distribution, especially when an ensemble of simulations was used.

scholarly journals Is Annual Recharge Coefficient a Valid Concept in Arid and Semi-Arid Region?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiben Cheng ◽  
Hongbin Zhan ◽  
Wenbin Yang ◽  
Hongzhong Dang ◽  
Wei Li
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Precipitation Pattern ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Bare Sand ◽  
Sand Land ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. Deep soil recharge (DSR) (at depth more than 200 cm) is an important part of water circulation in arid and semi-arid regions. Quantitative monitoring of DSR is of great importance to assess water resources and study water balance in arid and semi-arid regions. Simple estimates of recharge based on fixed fractions of annual precipitation are misleading because they do not reflect the plant and soil factors controlling recharge. This study used a typical bare land on the Eastern margin of Mu Us Sandy Land of China an example to illustrate a new lysimeter method of measuring DSR underneath bare sand land in arid and semi-arid regions. Positioning monitoring was done on precipitation and DSR measurement underneath mobile sand dunes from 2013 to 2015 in the study area. Results showed that use of a constant recharge coefficient for estimating DSR in bare sand land in arid and semi-arid regions is questionable and could lead to considerable errors. It appeared that DSR in those regions was influenced by precipitation pattern, and was closely correlated with spontaneous heavy precipitation (defined for an event with more than 10 mm precipitation) other than the average precipitation strength. This study showed that as much as 42 % of precipitation in a single heavy precipitation event can be transformed into DSR. During the observation period, the maximum annual DSR could make up to 24.33 % of the annual precipitation. This study provided a reliable method of estimating DSR in sandy area of arid and semi-arid regions, which is valuable for managing groundwater resources and ecological restoration in those regions.

scholarly journals Impact of multiple radar reflectivity data assimilation on the numerical simulation of a flash flood event during the HyMeX campaign

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 5459-5476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Maiello ◽  
Sabrina Gentile ◽  
Rossella Ferretti ◽  
Luca Baldini ◽  
Nicoletta Roberto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Reflectivity Data ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. An analysis to evaluate the impact of multiple radar reflectivity data with a three-dimensional variational (3-D-Var) assimilation system on a heavy precipitation event is presented. The main goal is to build a regionally tuned numerical prediction model and a decision-support system for environmental civil protection services and demonstrate it in the central Italian regions, distinguishing which type of observations, conventional and not (or a combination of them), is more effective in improving the accuracy of the forecasted rainfall. In that respect, during the first special observation period (SOP1) of HyMeX (Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment) campaign several intensive observing periods (IOPs) were launched and nine of which occurred in Italy. Among them, IOP4 is chosen for this study because of its low predictability regarding the exact location and amount of precipitation. This event hit central Italy on 14 September 2012 producing heavy precipitation and causing several cases of damage to buildings, infrastructure, and roads. Reflectivity data taken from three C-band Doppler radars running operationally during the event are assimilated using the 3-D-Var technique to improve high-resolution initial conditions. In order to evaluate the impact of the assimilation procedure at different horizontal resolutions and to assess the impact of assimilating reflectivity data from multiple radars, several experiments using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are performed. Finally, traditional verification scores such as accuracy, equitable threat score, false alarm ratio, and frequency bias – interpreted by analysing their uncertainty through bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs) – are used to objectively compare the experiments, using rain gauge data as a benchmark.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Two Cloud-Resolving Models Using Bin or Bulk Microphysics Representation for the HyMeX-IOP7a Heavy Precipitation Event

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1177
Author(s):  
Diana Arteaga ◽  
Céline Planche ◽  
Christina Kagkara ◽  
Wolfram Wobrock ◽  
Sandra Banson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Wind Fields ◽  
Massif Central ◽  
Surface Precipitation ◽  
Low Level

The Mediterranean region is frequently affected in autumn by heavy precipitation that causes flash-floods or landslides leading to important material damage and casualties. Within the framework of the international HyMeX program (HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment), this study aims to evaluate the capabilities of two models, WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) and DESCAM (DEtailed SCAvenging Model), which use two different representations of the microphysics to reproduce the observed atmospheric properties (thermodynamics, wind fields, radar reflectivities and precipitation features) of the HyMeX-IOP7a intense precipitating event (26 September 2012). The DESCAM model, which uses a bin resolved representation of the microphysics, shows results comparable to the observations for the precipitation field at the surface. On the contrary, the simulations made with the WRF model using a bulk representation of the microphysics (either the Thompson scheme or the Morrison scheme), commonly employed in NWP models, reproduce neither the intensity nor the distribution of the observed precipitation—the rain amount is overestimated and the most intense cell is shifted to the East. The different simulation results show that the divergence in the surface precipitation features seems to be due to different mechanisms involved in the onset of the precipitating system: the convective system is triggered by the topography of the Cévennes mountains (i.e., south-eastern part of the Massif Central) in DESCAM and by a low-level flux convergence in WRF. A sensitivity study indicates that the microphysics properties have impacted the thermodynamics and dynamics fields inducing the low-level wind convergence simulated with WRF for this HyMeX event.

scholarly journals The snow storm of 8 March 2010 in Catalonia (Spain): a paradigmatic wet-snow event with a high societal impact

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Llasat ◽  
M. Turco ◽  
P. Quintana-Seguí ◽  
M. Llasat-Botija
Keyword(s):  
Meteorological Factors ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Wet Snow ◽  
Snow Storm ◽  
Meteorological Features

Abstract. A heavy precipitation event swept over Catalonia (NE Spain) on 8 March 2010, with a total amount that exceeded 100 mm locally and snowfall of more than 60 cm near the coast. Unusual for this region and at this time of the year, this snowfall event affected mainly the coastal region and was accompanied by thunderstorms and strong wind gusts in some areas. Most of the damage was due to "wet snow", a kind of snow that favours accretion on power lines and causes line-breaking and subsequent interruption of the electricity supply. This paper conducts an interdisciplinary analysis of the event to show its great societal impact and the role played by the recently developed social networks (it has been called the first "Snowfall 2.0"), as well to analyse the meteorological factors associated with the major damage, and to propose an indicator that could summarise them. With this aim, the paper introduces the event and its societal impact and compares it with other important snowfalls that have affected the Catalan coast, using the PRESSGAMA database. The second part of the paper shows the event's main meteorological features and analyses the near-surface atmospheric variables responsible for the major damage through the application of the SAFRAN (Système d'analyse fournissant des renseignements atmosphériques à la neige) mesoscale analysis, which, together with the proposed "wind, wet-snow index" (WWSI), allows to estimate the severity of the event. This snow storm provides further evidence of our vulnerability to natural hazards and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in analysing societal impact and the meteorological factors responsible for this kind of event.

scholarly journals Thermal infrared remote sensing of mineral dust over land and ocean: a spectral SVD based retrieval approach for IASI

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Klüser ◽  
D. Martynenko ◽  
T. Holzer-Popp
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Dust Particle ◽  
Mineral Dust ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Northern Africa ◽  
Lookup Table ◽  
Dust Extinction ◽  
Dust Events

Abstract. From the high spectral resolution thermal infrared observations of the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) mineral dust AOD (transferred from thermal infrared to 0.5 μm) is retrieved using a Singular Vector Decomposition of brightness temperature spectra. As infrared retrieval based on 8–12 μm observations, dust observation with IASI is independent from solar illumination. Through the linear combinations of suitable independent singular vectors weighted by their contribution to the observed signal, and a projection of different a-priori dust spectra on the resulting signal the dust can be well distinguished from the influence of surface emissivity and gas absorption. In contrast to lookup-table based single-channel retrievals this method takes advantage of the spectral shape of dust extinction and surface and atmosphere influence over the total 8–12 μm window band. Using different a-priori spectra for dust extinction allows also for an estimation of dust particle size in terms of effective radius based on the respective dust model size distributions. These dust models are also used for the transfer of infrared AOD to 0.5 μm. Four months of IASI observations covering Northern Africa and Arabia are used for evaluation. Two large scale dust events, one covering the Arabian Peninsula and adjacent parts of the Indian Ocean, the other over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West-Africa, are analysed and compared with other satellite images. They also show the good suitability of IASI data for dust observation at day and night. Monthly means derived from IASI observations represent well the known seasonal cycles of dust activity over Northern Africa and Arabia. IASI Dust AOD0.5 μm and AERONET coarse mode AOD0.5 μm are reasonably well (linearly) correlated with ρ=0.623. Moreover, comparison of time series of AERONET and IASI observations shows that the evolution of dust events is very well covered by the IASI observations. Rank correlation between dust effective radius and AERONET Ångström exponent is −0.557 indicating the general capability of (qualitative) dust particle size information being provided by this method.

scholarly journals Forcing mechanisms of a heavy precipitation event in the southeastern Adriatic area

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 1231-1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branka Ivančan-Picek ◽  
Kristian Horvath ◽  
Nataša Strelec Mahović ◽  
Marjana Gajić-Čapka
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
Heavy Precipitation Event ◽  
Forcing Mechanisms

scholarly journals The 13–14 December 2001 IMPROVE-2 Event. Part II: Comparisons of MM5 Model Simulations of Clouds and Precipitation with Observations

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 3520-3534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew F. Garvert ◽  
Christopher P. Woods ◽  
Brian A. Colle ◽  
Clifford F. Mass ◽  
Peter V. Hobbs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Water ◽  
Mesoscale Model ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Precipitation Event ◽  
State University ◽  
Cloud Liquid Water ◽  
Aircraft Flight ◽  
Oregon Cascades ◽  
Microphysical Parameterization ◽  
Mass Concentrations

Abstract This paper compares airborne in situ observations of cloud microphysical parameters with the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) simulations, using the Reisner-2 bulk microphysical parameterization, for a heavy precipitation event over the Oregon Cascades on 13–14 December 2001. The MM5 correctly replicated the extent of the snow field and the growth of snow particles by vapor deposition measured along aircraft flight tracks between altitudes of 4.9 and 6 km, but overpredicted the mass concentrations of snow. The model produced a broader number distribution of snow particles than observed, overpredicting the number of moderate-to-large-sized snow particles and underpredicting the number of small particles observed along the aircraft flight track. Over the mountain crest, the model overpredicted depositional growth of snow and mass concentrations of snow, but underpredicted the amount of cloud liquid water and conversion of snow to graupel. The misclassification of graupel as snow and excessive amounts of snow resulted in the model overpredicting precipitation on the lee slopes and in localized areas along the foothills of the Cascades. The model overpredicted cloud liquid water over the lower windward slopes and foothills, where accretion of cloud liquid water by rain was the primary precipitation-producing mechanism.

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