Variability in base height of cumulonimbus clouds over Western Siberia based on ground remote sensing data

Abstract

The study deals with the analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of cumulonimbus cloud base height in Western Siberia based on ground remote (laser) sensing data at civil aviation meteorological stations during the period 2010–2021. The seasonal variability of the average values of the cumulonimbus base height was obtained, maps of its spatial distribution were constructed. It was established that an increase these values was occurred when moving from the north to the south of the region. Here the seasonal variability with a summer maximum was pronounced, there is also a second maximum in the winter months in the central part. Statistical characteristics of the cloud base height and its dependence on the station altitude were calculated. In addition, the analysis of atmospheric instability indices and convective precipitation was also carried out.