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Importance of the diurnal cycle of deep convection in understanding the role of Asian monsoon in the UTLS transport - perspective from multi-satellite observations. Chuntao Liu Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Utah Lahsa , July 2010. Outline.
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Importance of the diurnal cycle of deep convection in understanding the role of Asian monsoon in the UTLS transport- perspective from multi-satellite observations Chuntao Liu Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Utah Lahsa, July 2010
Outline • Intense convection near tropopause (TRMM PR) • Diurnal variation of convection and clouds • Day vs. night ice cloud (CloudSat, TRMM VIRS) • Day vs. night thin ice Clouds (Calipso) • Day vs. night MLS water vapor near tropopause • Conclusion
Deep convection with large particles at 14 km from TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR)
Clouds from infrared images (TRMM VIRS JJA)cold cloud ≠ deep convection
A-Train satellites sample time vs. diurnal cycles of deep convection Liu et al., 2008, JGR
Calipsolayer cloud profiles More cloud detected at the night time 1:30 AM is due to the higher signal/noise rate of Lidar at night. Note that layer clouds over land develop higher than over ocean, there are many possible explanations: a) due to deep convection lifting and cooling; b) due to radiative cooling and growing of thin clouds. c) note that the mean tropopause height is higher over red region.
A conceptual model over land Tropopause
Conclusions • TRMM observations show that there are strong diurnal cycles of deep convection and cold cloud over land and over ocean during the Asian monsoon. • CloudSat and Calipso show that there are large day vs. night differences in the clouds near tropopause (more clouds at the night time 1:30 AM over land) • AURA MLS observations show that at 146 hPa, there are more water vapor at night time (1:30 AM) than the day time over land. This is almost direct opposite to the day vs. night differences of water vapor at 100 hPa. • A-Train satellites observations show a strong diurnal variations of the cloud and water vapor near the tropopause that might directly related to the UTLS exchange. However, more observations covering the diurnal cycles will be needed to fully understand the process.
Diurnal cycles of deep convection, lightning and clouds Liu and Zipser, 2008, GRL