pollution that may influence precipitation variability. Precipitation variability induces localized
extremes in rainfall intensity creating pronounced floods and droughts. Cloud and precipitation
formation depend upon the availability and physical properties of particulates suspended within
the atmosphere and the distribution of water in the troposphere. The primary goal is to examine
the impact of local and regional pollutants on the distribution of water in the atmospheric column
and precipitation variability within the archipelago. Second, it seeks to identify if specific
satellite signatures of monsoonal precipitation can be identified with satellite retrievals of
hydrologic related cloud optical properties. Additionally, identify any significant trends which
exist within observed precipitation extremes of the past decade. This dissertation investigates
how aerosols impact the spatial and temporal distribution of tropospheric water and hydraulic
cloud optical properties during the monsoon season.
The data obtained in this study is taken from the decade 2001 to 2010 (during the Western
North Pacific Summer Monsoon (WNPSM)). Monthly averaged Level-3 MODIS Terra global
data retrievals and TRMM V7 3B-43 precipitation data during June through December are
employed. 10 MODIS hydrologic cloud retrievals and aerosol properties are examined. Baseline
comparisons between the decadal rainfall patterns during the monsoon season and the 50 year
climatology are presented.
Results revealed seasonal differences in regions exist between precipitation, hydrologic
cloud optical properties, and aerosols loading from the satellite retrievals in the last decade
where a dominant southeasterly (northwesterly) latitudinal gradient exist during JAS (OND) is
apparent within most assessed variables. Decadal rainfall on average has decreased by 54% in
comparison to the baseline. Principal Component Analysis on 9 of the 11 variables conducted
indicated, most variability is accounted between precipitation (48% - 66%), aerosol optical depth
(AOD), and angstrom exponents (AE). Highest AOD (0.2 – 0.4) loading is associated with
urban/industrial aerosols during JAS in the advent of higher rainfall events with smaller particles
where AEs exceed 1. Furthermore, extreme decadal rainfall occurs along the western and eastern
coasts of the RP which are influenced by marine and urban/industrial aerosols.
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