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Analysis of stability parameters in relation to precipitation associated with pre-monsoon thunderstorms over Kolkata, India

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Abstract

The upper air RS/RW (Radio Sonde/Radio Wind) observations at Kolkata (22.65N, 88.45E) during pre-monsoon season March–May, 2005–2012 is used to compute some important dynamic/thermodynamic parameters and are analysed in relation to the precipitation associated with the thunderstorms over Kolkata, India. For this purpose, the pre-monsoon thunderstorms are classified as light precipitation (LP), moderate precipitation (MP) and heavy precipitation (HP) thunderstorms based on the magnitude of associated precipitation. Richardson number in non-uniformly saturated (R i *) and saturated atmosphere (R i ); vertical shear of horizontal wind in 0–3, 0–6 and 3–7 km atmospheric layers; energy-helicity index (EHI) and vorticity generation parameter (VGP) are considered for the analysis. The instability measured in terms of Richardson number in non-uniformly saturated atmosphere (\(R_{i}^{\mathrm {\ast } })\) well indicate the occurrence of thunderstorms about 2 hours in advance. Moderate vertical wind shear in lower troposphere (0–3 km) and weak shear in middle troposphere (3–7 km) leads to heavy precipitation thunderstorms. The wind shear in 3–7 km atmospheric layers, EHI and VGP are good predictors of precipitation associated with thunderstorm. Lower tropospheric wind shear and Richardson number is a poor discriminator of the three classified thunderstorms.

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Acknowledgements

The Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming is acknowledged for the Radiosonde data over Kolkata during the pre-monsoon months of 2005–2012. Weather underground is acknowledged for providing the information regarding the occurrence of thunderstorms and the rainfall datasets. Mr D Pradhan, DDGM, RMC Kolkata is acknowledged for providing the radar imageries over the study area. Department of Science and Technology, Government of India is sincerely acknowledged for providing financial support to conduct the research.

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  1. Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721 302, India

    H P Nayak & M Mandal

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  1. H P Nayak
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  2. M Mandal
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Correspondence to M Mandal.

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Nayak, H.P., Mandal, M. Analysis of stability parameters in relation to precipitation associated with pre-monsoon thunderstorms over Kolkata, India. J Earth Syst Sci 123, 689–703 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0426-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0426-z

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