Mesoscale structures of stratiform precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau using an X-band Doppler radar and TRMM PR

Shuji Shimizu

doi:10.1117/12.410617

21 December 2000 Mesoscale structures of stratiform precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau using an X-band Doppler radar and TRMM PR

Shuji Shimizu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410617
Event: Second International Asia-Pacific Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Environment, and Space, 2000, Sendai, Japan

Abstract

The first Doppler radar observation on the Tibetan Plateau was conducted for the GEWEX/GAME-Tibet project in 1997 and 1998 in order to clarify the evolution and mesoscale structure of the rainfall system. The TRMM satellite also observed the rainfall in the Tibetan area in 1998. TRMM's precipitation radar (PR) detected a diurnal cycle of rainfall in Tibet. Much rainfall was brought both by convection in the daytime and by stratiform precipitation over a wide rain area in the evening. A case study was conducted to clarify the structure of stratiform rainfall. On 7 July, a synoptic convergence area developed in the southern part of the Plateau in the evening. Small convective echoes and stratiform echoes coexisted in the radar coverage at the beginning of the rainfall. Southwesterly wind dominated above the 6km ASL, but the wind direction below 6km ASL was variable during the rainfall. On 8 July, a cold front between southwesterly wind and northerly wind was detected over the radar site. A sudden wind direction change from westerly to northwesterly was observed below 8km ASL from the vertical profiles at the radar site with the passage of the cold frontal surface. The precipitation with the frontal passage was stratiform and has a low echo top.

Citation Download Citation

Shuji Shimizu "Mesoscale structures of stratiform precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau using an X-band Doppler radar and TRMM PR", Proc. SPIE 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II, (21 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410617

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available