Abstract
The three-dimensional structures of summer precipitation over the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS) are investigated based on tropical rainfall measurement mission (TRMM). The primary results are as follows. First, both the convective and stratiform precipitation rates in the SCS are much higher than those of the ECS. The contribution of the convective cloud precipitation to the surface precipitation is primarily over the SCS and the ECS with a proportion of about 70%, but the contribution of convective cloud precipitation is slightly larger in the SCS than the ECS. The contribution of stratus precipitation is slightly larger in the ECS than that in the SCS. Second, the content of cloud particles and precipitation particles in the ECS in June was greater than that in the SCS, while in July and August, the content of cloud and precipitation particles in the ECS was less than that in the SCS. Third, the latent heat profile of the ECS is quite different from that of the SCS. In June, the peak values of evaporation and condensation latent heating rates in the ECS are greater than those in the SCS. In July and August, however, the peak values of evaporation and condensation latent heating rates in the ECS are about 0.05°/h less than those in the SCS.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen Ju, Shi Ping, Wang Dongxiao. 2005. Spatial distribution and seasonal variability of therainfall observed From TRMM precipitation radar (PR) in the South China Sea area (SCSA). Advances in Earth Sciences, 20(1): 29–35
Fu Yunfei, Lin Yihua. 2003. Seasonal characteristics of precipitation in 1998 over East Asia as derived from TRMM PR. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, 20(4): 511–520
Fu Yunfei, Yu Rucong, Cui Chunguang. 2007. The structure characteristics of precipitating clouds over the East Asia Based on TRMM measurements. Torrential Rain and Disasters, 26(1): 9–20
Fu Yunfei, Zhang Aimin, Liu Yong. 2008. Characteristics of seasonal scale convective and stratiform precipitation in Asia based on measurements by TRMM precipitation radar. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 66(5): 730–746
He Huizhong, Cheng Minghu, Zhou Fengxian. 2006. 3D structure of rain and cloud hydrometeors for Typhoon Kujira (0302). Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 3(3): 491–503
He Huizhong, Cui Zhehu, Cheng Minghu, et al. 2004. TRMM satellite and application of its products. Meteorological Science and Technology, 32(1): 13–18
Hirohiko Masunaga, Iguchi Toshio, Oki Riko, et al. 2002. Comparison of rainfall products derived from TRMM microwave imager and precipitation radar. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 41: 849–862
Li Rui, Fu Yunfei, Zhao Ping. 2005. Characteristics of Rainfall Structure over the tropical Pacific during the later period of 1997–1998 El Nino derived from TRMM PR observations. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 29(2): 225–235
Li Weibiao, Luo Cong, Wang Dongxiao, et al. 2010. Diurnal variations of precipitation over the South China Sea. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, 109(1–2): 33–46
Li Weibiao, Wang Dongxiao, Lei Ting, et al. 2009. Convective and stratiform rainfall and heating associated with the summermonsoon over the South China Sea based on TRMMdata. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 95(1–2): 157–163
Lin Ailan, Ljiang Jianyin, Gu Dejun, et al. 2004. On the relationship between convection intensity of South China Sea summer monsoon andair-sea temperature difference in the tropical oceans. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 23(2): 267–278
Liu Qi, Fu Yunfei. 2007. The Asian summer precipitation studies based on measurements by TRMM/TMI. Science in China: Series D, 37(1): 111–122
Prabhakara C, Iacovazzi R, Yoo J M. 2002. TRMM precipitation radar and microwave iImager observations of convective and stratiform rain over land and their theoretical implications. Journal of The Meteorological Society of Japan, 80(5): 1183–1197
Schumacher C, Houze Robert A Jr. 2003. Stratiform rain in the tropics as seen by the TRMM precipitation radar. Journal of Climate, 16(11): 1739–1756
Wang Dongxiao, Liu Yun, Qi Yiquan, et al. 2001. Seasonal variability of thermal fronts in the northern South China Sea fromsatellite data. Geophysical Research Letters, 28(20): 3963–3966
Yao Zhanyu, Li Wanbiao, Zhu Yuanjing, et al. 2003. Remote sensing of cloud liquid water using TRMM microwave Imager. Journal of Applied Meteorological Science, 14: 19–26
Zeng Lili, Wang Dongxiao. 2009. Intraseasonal variability of latent heat flux in the South China Sea. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 97(1–2): 53–64
Zipser E J, Lutz K R. 1994. The vertical profile of radar reflectivity of convective cells: A strong indicator of storm intensity and lightning probability. MonthlyWeather Review, 122: 1751–1759
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: The National Key Basic Research Program of China under contract No. 2014CB953903; the National Basic Research Program of China under contract No. 2011CB403500; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 40775066 and 41275145; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under contract No. 13lgjc03.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, J., Yang, C., Li, F. et al. A comparison of summer precipitation structures over the South China Sea and the East China Sea based on tropical rainfall measurement mission. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 32, 41–49 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0376-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0376-3