A Multi-satellite Perspective on “Hot Tower” Characteristics in the Equatorial Trough Zone

Pilewskie, Juliet; Stephens, Graeme; Takahashi, Hanii; L’Ecuyer, Tristan

doi:10.1007/s10712-024-09868-2

Surv Geophys

2024

DOI: 10.1007/s10712-024-09868-2

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A Multi-satellite Perspective on “Hot Tower” Characteristics in the Equatorial Trough Zone

Juliet Pilewskie,

Graeme Stephens,

Hanii Takahashi

et al.

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Cited by 4 publications

References 75 publications

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Tropical Deep Convection, Cloud Feedbacks and Climate Sensitivity

Stephens,

Shiro,

Hakuba

et al. 2024

Surv Geophys

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This paper is concerned with how the diabatically-forced overturning circulations of the atmosphere, established by the deep convection within the tropical trough zone (TTZ), first introduced by Riehl and (Malkus) Simpson, in Contr Atmos Phys 52:287–305 (1979), fundamentally shape the distributions of tropical and subtropical cloudiness and the changes to cloudiness as Earth warms. The study first draws on an analysis of a range of observations to understand the connections between the energetics of the TTZ, convection and clouds. These observations reveal a tight coupling of the two main components of the diabatic heating, the cloud component of radiative heating, shaped mostly by high clouds formed by deep convection, and the latent heating associated with the precipitation. Interannual variability of the TTZ reveals a marked variation that connects the depth of the tropical troposphere, the depth of convection, the thickness of high clouds and the TOA radiative imbalance. The study examines connections between this convective zone and cloud changes further afield in the context of CMIP6 model experiments of climate warming. The warming realized in the CMIP6 SSP5-8.5 scenario multi-model experiments, for example, produces an enhanced Hadley circulation with increased heating in the zone of tropical deep convection and increased radiative cooling and subsidence in the subtropical regions. This impacts low cloud changes and in turn the model warming response through low cloud feedbacks. The pattern of warming produced by models, also influenced by convection in the tropical region, has a profound influence on the projected global warming.

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Tropical Deep Convection, Cloud Feedbacks and Climate Sensitivity

Stephens,

Shiro,

Hakuba

et al. 2024

Surv Geophys

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

A Geostationary Satellite-Based Approach to Estimate Convective Mass Flux and Revisit the Hot Tower Hypothesis

Derras-Chouk,

Luo

2024

Surv Geophys

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METEOSAT Long-Term Observations Reveal Changes in Convective Organization Over Tropical Africa and Atlantic Ocean

Roca,

Fiolleau,

John

et al. 2024

Surv Geophys

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In the tropics, deep convection, which is often organized into convective systems, plays a crucial role in the water and energy cycles by significantly contributing to surface precipitation and forming upper-level ice clouds. The arrangement of these deep convective systems, as well as their individual properties, has recently been recognized as a key feature of the tropical climate. Using data from Africa and the tropical Atlantic Ocean as a case study, recent shifts in convective organization have been analyzed through a well-curated, unique record of METEOSAT observations spanning four decades. The findings indicate a significant shift in the occurrence of deep convective systems, characterized by a decrease in large, short-lived systems and an increase in smaller, longer-lived ones. This shift, combined with a nearly constant deep cloud fraction over the same period, highlights a notable change in convective organization. These new observational insights are valuable for refining emerging kilometer-scale climate models that accurately represent individual convective systems but struggle to realistically simulate their overall arrangement.

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A Multi-satellite Perspective on “Hot Tower” Characteristics in the Equatorial Trough Zone

Cited by 4 publications

References 75 publications

Tropical Deep Convection, Cloud Feedbacks and Climate Sensitivity

Tropical Deep Convection, Cloud Feedbacks and Climate Sensitivity

A Geostationary Satellite-Based Approach to Estimate Convective Mass Flux and Revisit the Hot Tower Hypothesis

METEOSAT Long-Term Observations Reveal Changes in Convective Organization Over Tropical Africa and Atlantic Ocean

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