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Characteristics of Precipitation Features and Annual Rainfall during the TRMM Era in the Central AndesThe central Andes extends from 7 deg to 21 deg S, with its eastern boundary defined by elevation (1000m and greater) and its western boundary by the coastline. The authors used a combination of surface observations, reanalysis, and the University of Utah Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation features (PF) database to understand the characteristics of convective systems and associated rainfall in the central Andes during the TRMM era, 1998-2012. Compared to other dry (West Africa), mountainous (Himalayas), and dynamically linked (Amazon) regions in the tropics, the central Andes PF population was distinct from these other regions, with small and weak PFs dominating its cumulative distribution functions and annual rainfall totals. No more than 10% of PFs in the central Andes met any of the thresholds used to identify and define deep convection (minimum IR cloud-top temperatures, minimum 85-GHz brightness temperature, maximum height of the 40-dBZ echo). For most of the PFs, available moisture was limited (less than 35mm) and instability low (less than 500 J kg(exp -1)). The central Andes represents a largely stable, dry to arid environment, limiting system development and organization. Hence, primarily short-duration events (less than 60 min) characterized by shallow convection and light to light-moderate rainfall rates (0.5-4.0 mm h(exp -1)) were found.
Document ID
20150007906
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00592.1
Authors
Mohr, Karen I. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Slayback, Daniel (Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Yager, Karina (Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
May 12, 2015
Publication Date
June 1, 2014
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Climate
Publisher: American Meteorological Society
Volume: 27
Issue: 11
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN22921
Report Number: GSFC-E-DAA-TN22921
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12HP08C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG15HQ01C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Andes Mountains
TRMM
Tropical Rainfall

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