Abstract
The characteristics of seasonal precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) were investigated using TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) precipitation data (3B43). Sensitive regions of summer precipitation interannual variation anomalies were investigated using EOF (empirical orthogonal function) analysis. Furthermore, the profiles of cloud water content (CWC) and precipitable water in different regions and seasons were analyzed using TRMM-3A12 data observed by the TRMM Microwave Imager. Good agreement was found between hydrometeors and precipitation over the eastern and southeastern TP, where water vapor is adequate, while the water vapor amount is not significant over the western and northern TP. Further analysis showed meridional and zonal anomalies of CWC centers in the ascending branch of the Hadley and Walker Circulation, especially over the south and east of the TP. The interannual variation of hydrometeors over the past decade showed a decrease over the southeastern and northwestern TP, along with a corresponding increase over other regions.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bai, A., C. H. Liu, and X. D. Liu, 2008: Diurnal variation of summer rainfall over the Tibetan Plateau and its neighboring regions revealed by TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 51(3), 704–714. (in Chinese)
Chen, H. M., W. H. Yuan, J. Li, and R. C. Yu, 2012: A possible cause for different diurnal variations of warm season rainfall as shown in station observations and TRMM 3B42 data over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 29, 193–200, doi: 10.1007/s00376-011-0218-1.
Duan, A. M., and G. X. Wu, 2005: Role of the Tibetan Plateau thermal forcing in the summer climate patterns over subtropical Asia. Climate Dyn., 24(7–8), 793–807.
Easterling, D. R., and Coauthors, 1997: Maximum and minimum temperature trends for the globe. Science, 277(5324), 364–367.
Flohn, H., 1957: Large scale aspects of the “summer monsoon” in South and East Asia. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 75, 180–186.
Flohn, H., 1960: Recent investigation on the mechanism of the “summer monsoon” of southern and eastern Asia. Proc. Symp. Monsoon of the World, New Delhi, Hindu Union Press, 75–88.
Fu, Y. F., and G. S. Liu, 2007: Possible misidentification of rain type by TRMM PR over Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 46(5), 667–672.
Fu, Y. F., G. S. Liu, G. X. Wu, R. C. Yu, Y. P. Xu, Y. Wang, R. Li, and Q. Liu, 2006: Tower mast of precipitation over the central Tibetan Plateau summer. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L05802, doi: 10.1029/2005GL024713.
Fu, Y. F., D. Liu, Y. Wang, R. C. Yu, Y. P. Xu, and R. Chen, 2007: Characteristics of precipitating and non-precipitating clouds in typhoon Ranan as viewed by TRMM combined measurements. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 65(3), 316–328 (in Chinese).
Fujinami, H., S. Nomura, and T. Yasunari, 2005: Characteristics of diurnal variations in convection and precipitation over the southern Tibetan Plateau during summer. SOLA, 1, 49–52.
Gao, B. C., P. Yang, G. Guo, S. K. Park, W. J. Wiscombe, and B. D. Chen, 2003: Measurements of water vapor and high clouds over the Tibetan Plateau with the Terra MODIS instrument. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 41(4), 895–900.
Goswami, B. N., 2005: South Asian monsoon. Intraseasonal Variability in the Atmosphere-Ocean Climate System, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 19–61.
Guo, Y. P., and C. H. Wang, 2014: Trends in precipitation recycling over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in last decades. J. Hydrol., 517, 826–835, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.06.006.
Houze, R. A., 1997: Stratiform precipitation in regions of convection: A meteorological paradox? Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78(10), 2179–2196.
Houze, R. A., D. C. Wilton, and B. F. Smull, 2007: Monsoon convection in the Himalayan region as seen by the TRMM Precipitation Radar. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 133, 1389–1411.
Karl, T. R., G. Kukla, V. N. Razuvayev, M. J. Changery, R. G. Quayle, R. R. Heim Jr., D. R. Easterling, and C. B. Fu, 1991: Global warming: Evidence for asymmetric diurnal temperature change. Geophys. Res. Lett., 18(12), 2253–2256.
Kuo, H. L., and Y. F. Qian, 1981: Influence of the Tibetan Plateau on cumulative and diurnal changes of weather and climate in summer. Mon. Wea. Rev., 109(11), 2337–2356.
Li, X. Y., X. Guo, and J. Zhu, 2008: Climatic distribution features and trends of cloud water resources over China. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 32(5), 1094–1106, doi: 10.3878/j.issn.1006-9895.2008.05.09. (in Chinese).
Liu, Q., and Y. F. Fu, 2007a: An examination of summer precipitation over Asia based on TRMM/TMI. Science in China (D), 50, 3430–441.
Liu, Q., and Y. F. Fu, 2007b: Characteristics of latent heating over the Tibetan Plateau during summer. Journal of University of Science and Technology of China, 37(3), 303–309.
Liu, X. D., and Z. Y. Yin, 2001: Spatial and temporal variation of summer precipitation over the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the North Atlantic Oscillation. J. Climate, 14(13), 2896–2909.
Luo, H. B., and M. Yanai, 1983: The large-scale circulation and heat sources over the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas during the early summer of 1979. Part I: Precipitation and kinematic analyses. Mon. Wea. Rev., 111(5), 922–944.
Luo, H. B., and M. Yanai, 1984: The large-scale circulation and heat sources over the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas during the early summer of 1979. Part II: Heat and moisture budgets. Mon. Wea. Rev., 112(5), 966–989.
Luo, Y. L., R. H. Zhang, and H. Wang, 2009: Comparing occurrences and vertical structures of hydrometeors between eastern China and the Indian monsoon region using Cloud-Sat/CALIPSO data. J. Climate, 22, 1052–1064.
Nitta, T., 1983: Observational study of heat sources over the eastern Tibetan Plateau during the summer monsoon. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 61(4), 590–605.
Romatschke, U., S. Medina, and R. A. Houze, 2010: Regional, seasonal, and diurnal variations of extreme convection in the South Asian region. J. Climate, 23, 419–439.
Shen, Y., A. Y. Xiong, Y. Wang, and P. P. Xie, 2010: Performance of high-resolution satellite precipitation products over China. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D02114, doi: 10.1029/2009JD012097.
Shimizu, S., K. Ueno, H. Fujii, H. Yamada, R. Shirooka, and L. P. Liu, 2001: Mesoscale characteristics and structures of stratiform precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 79(1B), 435–461.
Ueno, K., H. Fujii, H. Yamada, and L. P. Liu, 2001: Weak and frequent monsoon precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 79(1B), 419–434.
Uyeda, H., and Coauthors, 2001: Characteristics of convective clouds observed by a Doppler radar at Naqu on Tibetan Plateau during the GAME-Tibet IOP. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 79(1B), 463–474.
Wang, C. H., and Y. P. Guo, 2012: Precipitable water conversion rates over the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau: Changing characteristics with global warming. Hydrological Processes, 26(10), 1509–1516.
Wang, C. H., L. Yu, and B. Huang, 2012: The impact of warm pool SST and general circulation on increased temperature over the Tibetan Plateau. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 29(2), 274–284, doi: 10.1007/s00376-011-1034-3.
Wang, H. J., 2001: The weakening of the Asian monsoon circulation after the end of 1970’s. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18(3), 376–386, doi: 10.1007/BF02919316.
Wu, G. X., and Y. S. Zhang, 1998: Tibetan Plateau forcing and the timing of the monsoon onset over South Asia and the South China Sea. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 913–927.
Yanai, M., and C. F. Li, 1994: Mechanism of heating and the boundary layer over the Tibetan Plateau. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122(2), 305–323.
Yanai, M., C. F. Li, and Z. S. Song, 1992: Seasonal heating of the Tibetan Plateau and its effects on the evolution of the Asian summer monsoon. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 70(1B), 319–351.
Yeh, T.-C., S.-W. Lo, and P.-C. Chu, 1957: The wind structure and heat balance in the lower troposphere over Tibet Plateau and its surrounding. Acta Meteorological Sinica, 28(2), 108–121 (in Chinese with English Abstract).
Yeh, T. C., and Y. X. Gao, 1979: The Meteorology of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. Science Press, Beijing, 278 pp. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, C., Shi, H., Hu, H. et al. Properties of cloud and precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 32, 1504–1516 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-015-4254-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-015-4254-0