A study is carried out to investigate the spatio‐temporal variation of the properties of deep convective systems (DCSs) and intense DCSs (IDCSs) in association with lightning and hail features along with their ice microphysical properties over the South Asia. For this purpose 17 years (1998–2014) of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and 4 years (2007–2010) of CloudSat data during the premonsoon and monsoon seasons are utilized. Significant spatio‐temporal variability in the properties of DCSs and IDCSs is observed over the study region. During both the seasons, deepest DCSs (top 1%) are found over the land as well ocean without any preferred location. Over the land, its location of the maximum occurrence shifts from the Sumatra coast (Indonesia) and the southern part of West coast of India to the Meghalaya plateau and adjoining region during the premonsoon to monsoon. Over the ocean, the location of its maximum occurrence shifts from the equatorial Indian Ocean to the Bay of Bengal. Overall, during the premonsoon and monsoon seasons, their occurrence is more over the ocean and land, respectively. Occurrence of IDCSs is predominantly a land phenomena. The location of most intense IDCSs (top 1%) and its maximum occurrence shifts from the Meghalaya plateau to Western Himalaya Indentation regions during the premonsoon to monsoon. Over the land, of the total DCSs, only 11–18% of DCSs contribute to lightning features, whereas of the total IDCSs, 62–74% of IDCSs contribute to lightning feature. Similarly, over the land, the contribution of DCSs to hail feature is insignificant. However, 6–12% of IDCSs contribute to hail feature. The preferred locations of IDCSs with strong lightning and hail features are associated with relatively higher values of the ice water content and ice effective radius in the upper part of the mixed‐phase region compared with other regions.
The spatial‐seasonal variation of rainfall contribution by the height spectrum of precipitation systems in terms of maximum echo top height of 20 and 40 dBZ (ETH20 dBZ (max) and ETH40 dBZ (max)) is investigated. The study is carried out during the pre‐monsoon (March–May) and monsoon (June–September) over the continental, coastal and oceanic regions of South‐Asia. For this purpose, 17 years (1998–2014) of TRMM‐PR and 4 years (2007–2010) of CloudSat‐CPR observations are considered. Over the continental (coastal/oceanic) regions, the maximum rainfall contribution is by relatively deeper ETH20 dBZ (max) during the monsoon (pre‐monsoon). During the pre‐monsoon (monsoon), the maximum rainfall contribution by Deep Convective Systems (DCSs) is over the Northern‐Myanmar‐Coast; 55% (Western‐Himalaya‐Indentation; 39%). Over the central Arabian‐Sea and central Bay‐of‐Bengal, rainfall contributions by DCSs are predominantly associated with Tropical Cyclonic Disturbances (TCDs) in the pre‐monsoon season. In terms of ETH40 dBZ (max), the maximum rainfall contribution over the continental region during the pre‐monsoon is by relatively stronger Precipitation Features (PFs) compared to the monsoon. Unlike the other regions, during the pre‐monsoon, over the Western‐Himalaya‐Indentation and Central‐Himalaya‐Foothills, rainfall contribution by Intense Convective Systems (ICSs) is significantly higher compared to DCSs. During the pre‐monsoon (monsoon), the maximum rainfall contribution by ICSs is over the Eastern‐India‐Coast; 35% (Western‐Himalaya‐Indentation; 18%). The rainfall contribution by ICSs during TCDs is insignificant. During both the seasons, the regions of high rainfall contribution by ICSs, DCSs, and shallow PFs are associated with relatively higher (≥400 mg‐m−3), moderate (300–350 mg‐m−3), and low (<150 mg‐m−3) Cloud Ice Water Content (CIWC) in the mixed‐phase region, respectively, suggesting a strong, moderate and weak mixed‐phase processes involved in the respective PFs. TCDs enhance the occurrence of DCSs with moderate CIWC in mixed‐phase region and leading to enhanced rainfall contribution by them over the active cyclone regions.
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