Characterizing precipitation processes during 1998, 1999 in West and Central Africa from the TRMM data

Mean annual and seasonal characteristics of rainfall and processes are examined for West and Central Africa. In particular, we show how the nature of precipitation takes on mesoscale patterns with the high resolution data when compared with lower resolution data. Further, we examine how mean storm height, reflectivity, melting layer heights, convective and stratiform rainfall change as a function of time. These values are compared to outgoing longwave radiation and long-term gridded precipitation. We also show the role of topography, lakes and the ocean on TRMM variables during this period.