Diurnal Cycle of the North American Monsoon in a Mesoscale Model Simulation: Evolution of Key Parameters in Relation to Precipitation

Atmosphere

Bin Guan¹ 

[1] Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA

关键词: diurnal cycle;    North American monsoon;    mesoscale model;    precipitation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/atmos2020057

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The diurnal cycle of the North American monsoon is analyzed based on the output from a mesoscale model simulation. Statistically significant diurnal cycle in precipitation is identified, with heavy precipitation—essentially convective—dominating in local afternoons. Temporal evolution of key parameters in relation to precipitation is investigated, based on which a sequence of the dynamic/thermodynamic processes underlying precipitation development is proposed. Particularly, the afternoon peak in precipitation is found preceded by enhanced static instability and low-level convergence.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.