Precipitation Processes Derived from TRMM Satellite Data, Cloud Resolving Model and Field Campaigns

NASA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) derived rainfall information will be used to estimate the four-dimensional structure of global monthly latent heating and rainfall profiles over the global tropics from December 1997 to October 2000. Rainfall, latent heating and radar reflectivity structures between 1997-1998 (winter) ENSO and 1998-2000 (non-ENSO) will be examined and compared. The seasonal variation of heating over various geographic locations (i.e., oceanic vs continental; Indian ocean vs west Pacific; Africa vs S. America) will also be analyzed. In addition, the relationship between rainfall, latent heating (maximum heating level), radar reflectivity and SST will be examined.

The Goddard Cumulus Ensemble Model will also be used to simulate various mesoscale convective systems that developed in different geographic locations. Specifically, the model estimated rainfall, radar reflectivity and latent heating profiles will be compared to observational data collected from TRMM field campaigns over the South China Sea in 1998 (SCSMEX), Brazil in 1999 (TRMM-LBA), and the central Pacific in 1999 (KWAJEX). Sounding diagnosed heating budgets and radar reflectivity from these experiments can provide the means to validate as well as improve the GCE model.