Characteristics of Monsoon Rainfall around the Himalayas Revealed by TRMM Precipitation Radar

• DOI: 10.1175/mwr-2846.1
• Publication Date: 2005-03-04T21:21:42Z
• Authors: B. C. Bhatt; K. Nakamura
• Keywords: Diurnal cycle; Precipitation types

Abstract The climatological features of the diurnal cycle and its spatial temporal variability are investigated around Himalayas using hourly, 0.05° × grid, near-surface rainfall data from Precipitation Radar (PR) aboard Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite during June–July–August (JJA) 1998–2002. Though sampling errors inherent to TRMM PR measurements could influence results, PR-observed precipitation show agreement with previous studies in this region. analysis characteristics presented here is based on two rain-rate thresholds: (a) light rain rate (≤5 mm h−1), (b) moderate heavy (>5 h−1). results suggest that afternoon evening noticed as embedded convection within a large region over south-facing slopes Himalayas. conditional exhibits relatively stronger However, may be biased because sampling. Almost all Tibetan Plateau shows activity. northern Indian subcontinent regions characterized by daytime maximum precipitation. From finescale topography, it observed (1200–1800 LT) concentrated ridges strong ridge–valley gradients appearing During midnight–early morning, intense concentrates well river valleys. broadening movement time period.