Raindrop size distribution (RSD) characteristics in summer season rainfall of two observational sites (Taiwan (24°58′N, 121°10′E) and Palau (7°20′N, 134°28′E)) in western Pacific are studied by using five years of impact type disdrometer data. In addition to disdrometer data, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and ERA‐Interim data sets are used to illustrate the dynamical and microphysical characteristics associated with summer season rainfall of Taiwan and Palau. Taiwan and Palau's raindrop spectra showed a significant difference, with a higher concentration of middle and large drops in Taiwan than Palau rainfall. RSD stratified on the basis of rain rate showed a higher mass‐weighted mean diameter (Dm) and a lower normalized intercept parameter (log10Nw) in Taiwan than Palau rainfall. Precipitation classification into stratiform and convective regimes showed higher Dm values in Taiwan than Palau. Furthermore, for both the locations, the convective precipitation has a higher Dm value than stratiform precipitation. The radar reflectivity‐rain rate relations (Z = A*Rb) of Taiwan and Palau showed a clear variation in the coefficient and a less variation in exponent values. Terrain‐influenced clouds extended to higher altitudes over Taiwan resulted with higher Dm and lower log10Nw values as compared to Palau.
The present study investigates modulation by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) of storm track activity (STA) over the North Pacific (NP) during boreal winter for El Niño and La Niña periods. STA defined by vertically averaged synoptic eddy kinetic energy (EKE) greatly intensifies over the western North Pacific (WNP) and central eastern North Pacific during La Niña and El Niño years, respectively, when the MJO convection is located over the central Indian Ocean (IO)-Maritime Continent. When the MJO moves into the western central Pacific, the STA in La Niña years is suppressed (enhanced) at higher (lower) latitudes than in El Niño years. Diagnoses of EKE and eddy available potential energy budgets indicate that the difference in STA over the WNP for the MJO phases between El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years is mainly contributed by baroclinic energy conversion and potential energy conversion between background and eddy (BC PE ). We reveal that BC PE is mainly attributed to intraseasonal baroclinicity and eddy heat flux (EHF) anomalies and their interactions with strong winter mean baroclinic fields in the WNP. Through the EHF, synoptic eddies act to counterbalance an intraseasonal temperature that is primarily caused by the anomalous horizontal advection of mean temperature by MJO-related flow. The intraseasonal circulation and associated temperature and EHF anomalies dominate in northwest (southeast) portion of the NP during La Niña (El Niño), leading to BC PE difference. Changes in the spatial pattern and strength of the NP circulation and STA are caused by dominance of strong MJO amplification over the IO (central Pacific) during La Niña (El Niño).
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