Journal Article
Earth System Science Data, vol. 13, iss. 2, pp. 827-856, 2021
Authors
Jianfeng Li, Zhe Feng, Yun Qian, L. Ruby Leung
Abstract
Abstract. Deep convection possesses markedly distinct properties at different
spatiotemporal scales. We present an original high-resolution (4 km, hourly)
unified data product of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and isolated
deep convection (IDC) in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and
examine their climatological characteristics from 2004 to 2017. The data
product is produced by applying an updated Flexible Object Tracker algorithm
to hourly satellite brightness temperature, radar reflectivity, and
precipitation datasets. Analysis of the data product shows that MCSs are
much larger and longer-lasting than IDC, but IDC occurs about 100 times more
frequently than MCSs, with a mean convective intensity comparable to that of
MCSs. Hence both MCS and IDC are essential contributors to precipitation
east of the Rocky Mountains, although their precipitation shows
significantly different spatiotemporal characteristics. IDC precipitation
concentrates in summer in the Southeast with a peak in the late afternoon,
while MCS precipitation is significant in all seasons, especially for spring
and summer in the Great Plains. The spatial distribution of MCS
precipitation amounts varies by season, while diurnally, MCS precipitation
generally peaks during nighttime except in the Southeast. Potential
uncertainties and limitations of the data product are also discussed. The
data product is useful for investigating the atmospheric environments and
physical processes associated with different types of convective systems;
quantifying the impacts of convection on hydrology, atmospheric chemistry,
and severe weather events; and evaluating and improving the representation
of convective processes in weather and climate models. The data product is
available at https://doi.org/10.25584/1632005 (Li
et al., 2020).
