Detecting trends in tropical rainfall characteristics, 1979–2003

Lau, K.-M.; Wu, Hong

doi:10.1002/joc.1454

Cited by 108 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These results are consistent with Ronchail (1996) who finds a similar pluriannual variability in Bolivia and with Marengo and Nobre (2001) and Marengo (2004) who show opposite long-term evolutions in the north and south of the Brazilian AB. Also Lau and Wu (2006) describe a similar spatio-temporal pattern, with an increase in the annual rainfall along the tropical Andes, whereas the annual rainfall decreases in the eastern and southern parts of the Amazon, between 1979Amazon, between -1990Amazon, between and 1991Amazon, between -2002. However, our study yields some insights into the seasonality of the pluriannual rainfall evolution.…”

Section: Interannual Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 60%

Spatio‐temporal rainfall variability in the Amazon basin countries (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador)

Espinoza

Ronchail

Guyot

et al. 2008

Intl Journal of Climatology

455

265

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Rainfall variability in the Amazon basin (AB) is analysed for the 1964-2003 period. It is based on 756 pluviometric stations distributed throughout the AB countries. For the first time it includes data from Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. In particular, the recent availability of rainfall data from the Andean countries makes it possible to complete previous studies. The impact of mountain ranges on rainfall is pointed out. The highest rainfall in the AB is observed in low windward regions, and low rainfall is measured in leeward and elevated stations. Additionally, rainfall regimes are more diversified in the Andean regions than in the lowlands. Rainfall spatio-temporal variability is studied based on a varimax-rotated principal component analysis (PCA). Long-term variability with a decreasing rainfall since the 1980s prevails in June-July-August (JJA) and September-October-November (SON). During the rainiest seasons, i.e. December-January-February (DJF) and March-April-May (MAM), the main variability is at decadal and interannual time scales. Interdecadal variability is related to long-term changes in the Pacific Ocean, whereas decadal variability, opposing the northwest and the south of the AB, is associated with changes in the strength of the low-level jet (LLJ) along the Andes. Interannual variability characterizes more specifically the northeast of the basin and the southern tropical Andes. It is related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and to the sea surface temperature (SST) gradient over the tropical Atlantic. Mean rainfall in the basin decreases during the 1975-2003 period at an annual rate estimated to be −0.32%. Break tests show that this decrease has been particularly important since 1982. Further insights into this phenomenon will permit to identify the impact of climate on the hydrology of the AB.

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Section: Interannual Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 60%

Spatio‐temporal rainfall variability in the Amazon basin countries (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador)

Espinoza

Ronchail

Guyot

et al. 2008

Intl Journal of Climatology

455

265

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“…The expectation is that as the water vapor content of the tropical atmosphere increases, the moisture convergence for a given amount of mass convergence is enhanced. This should increase rainfall rates in systems 47 and also an increase during warm periods of interannual variability 48 . A number of studies of land-based precipitation data have identified increasing trends in the frequency of very heavy precipitation events 2,3 .…”

Section: Detection and Attributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical cyclones and climate change

et al. 2010

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“…As the water vapor content of the tropical atmosphere increases, the moisture convergence for a given amount of mass convergence is enhanced, increasing rainfall rates in systems including TCs. Using satellite data, Lau and Wu (2007) reported an increase in the occurrence of heavy rain events in the tropics during 1979̶2003. Several studies of land-based precipitation data have identified increasing trends in the frequency of very heavy precipitation events (IPCC 2007).…”

Section: Changes In the Average Rainfall Per Tcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in China

Zhang¹,

Ren

et al. 2013

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

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The torrential-rainfall-associated tropical cyclone (TC) activity often causes flood disasters in China. Moreover, studies suggest that TC-related rainfall rates are likely to increase in a warmer climate. Using daily precipitation observations at 514 meteorological stations during 1965̶2009, this study investigates the primary features of TC rainfall in China, with a particular focus on the contribution of TC rainfall to the changes in the precipitation climate and the average rainfall per TC.TC rainfall mainly affected eastern and southeastern China, accounting for more than 10% of the summer rainfall in South and Southeast China. TC rainfall trended upward in the lower reach of the Yangtze River and Southeast China, contributing to the "wetting in the south and drying in the north" pattern by enhancing the rainfall in Southeast China. This study suggests that the average rainfall per TC has significantly increased in Southeast China during 1965̶2009. In the peak season (July̶September), all significant changes are upward trends that occur south of the Yangtze River east of 110°E. This study finds that the increasing rainfall per TC was not accompanied with the enhanced TC intensity. In addition, no significant trend can be found in the translation speed of TCs that affected China during 1965̶2009, suggesting that the increasing TC rainfall per TC in China was not due to the slowdown of TC movement.

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Detecting trends in tropical rainfall characteristics, 1979–2003

Cited by 108 publications

References 23 publications

Spatio‐temporal rainfall variability in the Amazon basin countries (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador)

Spatio‐temporal rainfall variability in the Amazon basin countries (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador)

Tropical cyclones and climate change

Changes in Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in China

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