83rd Annual

Thursday, 13 February 2003
Cloud and rainfall observed from TRMM
Toshiro Inoue, MRI, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
TRMM carries PR, TMI, VIRS and LIS. Therefore, we can get the coincident information on rainfall characteristics, cloud properties and lightning information. Coincident observation of cloud and rainfall is essential since rainfall event is highly variable in time and space. The multi-sensor on board TRMM is the best tool to study the relationship between rainfall and cloud. From the cloud type classification by use of split window, we define the life stage of deep convection. Then using the coincident observation of PR and LIS data, we study the relationship between rain type and frequency of lightning depending on the life stage of the deep convection over the South America. There is a tendency that the convective rain is dominant at developing stage, and the number of lightning is increase at mature stage. We also study the shallow rain over the eastern Pacific. We studied the rain from PR and TMI over the eastern Pacific. Rain by PR and TMI are compared with cloud top temperature from VIRS.

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