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Properties of cloud and precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

The characteristics of seasonal precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) were investigated using TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) precipitation data (3B43). Sensitive regions of summer precipitation interannual variation anomalies were investigated using EOF (empirical orthogonal function) analysis. Furthermore, the profiles of cloud water content (CWC) and precipitable water in different regions and seasons were analyzed using TRMM-3A12 data observed by the TRMM Microwave Imager. Good agreement was found between hydrometeors and precipitation over the eastern and southeastern TP, where water vapor is adequate, while the water vapor amount is not significant over the western and northern TP. Further analysis showed meridional and zonal anomalies of CWC centers in the ascending branch of the Hadley and Walker Circulation, especially over the south and east of the TP. The interannual variation of hydrometeors over the past decade showed a decrease over the southeastern and northwestern TP, along with a corresponding increase over other regions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Disaster Reduction of Gansu Province, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Chenghai Wang, Hongxia Shi, Haolin Hu & Yi Wang

  2. Troop 93212, The People’s Liberation Army, Dalian, 116200, China

    Haolin Hu

  3. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Dakota, 4149 University Ave., Box 31 9006, Grand Forks, ND, 58202-9006, USA

    Baike Xi

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  1. Chenghai Wang
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  2. Hongxia Shi
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  3. Haolin Hu
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  4. Yi Wang
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  5. Baike Xi
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Correspondence to Chenghai Wang.

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Wang, C., Shi, H., Hu, H. et al. Properties of cloud and precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 32, 1504–1516 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-015-4254-0

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