Climatological Characteristics of VIRS Channels for Precipitating Cloud in Summer over the Tropics and Subtropics

Abstract

Abstract:

Climatological characteristics of VIRS (Visible and Infrared Scanner), mainly at channel 0.63μm and 10.8μm, from precipitating clouds including stratiform and convective precipitation in summer from 1998 to 2007 over the tropics and Subtropics are investigated based on combining measurements of VIRS and TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) PR (Precipitation Radar) together with the precipitating cloud identification of PR detections. Results indicate the distributions of more than 0.5 mean reflectivity at channel 0.63μm for precipitating clouds located in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), southern Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ), Asian monsoon region, tropical Africa, North America and southern tropical America. The maximum mean reflectivity over these regions is over 0.7. Generally, the mean reflectivity of precipitating clouds over land is larger than that over ocean. On the contrary, the mean reflectivity for non-precipitating circumstance over the tropics and subtropics only varies from 0.1 to 0.4. For 95% convective precipitation, its mean reflectivity is over 0.5 against only 50% stratiform precipitation with such mean reflectivity. At channel 10.8μm, the mean radiant temperature lower than 250K appears in the precipitation regions over Asian monsoon, ITCZ, SPCZ and tropical Africa accompanying with higher than 280K in non-precipitation regions. The mean radiant temperature of most convective precipitation at channel 10.8μm is lower than 230K over the tropical Africa, Tibet plateau, the central America and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean while that of most stratiform precipitation varies from 280K to 290K over the northeast and southeast Pacific, North Africa, South Africa and most parts of South America. Moreover, the radiant temperature of precipitation cloud over the eastern hemisphere is 10K higher than that over the western hemisphere coincidently with the higher reflectivity at channel 0.63μm in the eastern hemisphere.

Key words: precipitaion radar, visible and infrared scanner, precipitating cloud, convective, stratiform

CLC Number:

P407
P426

FU Yun-Fei, LIU Peng, LIU Qi, MA Ming, SUN Liang, WANG Yu. Climatological Characteristics of VIRS Channels for Precipitating Cloud in Summer over the Tropics and Subtropics[J]. Journal of Atmospheric and Environmental Optics, 2011, 6(2): 129-.

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