Variation of Lightning and Convective Rain Fraction in Mesoscale Convective Systems of the MJO

Abstract

Characteristics of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in regions affected by the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) are investigated using a database of MCSs observed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). Lightning occurrence detected by the World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) is composited in a framework centered on the MCSs. During MJO active periods, MCSs are more numerous and larger, as the convective features persist and attain greater horizontal scales. Anomalies of the lifted index, derived from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) fields, indicate that MCS environments are more stable during MJO active periods.Over the Indian Ocean, Maritime Continent, and western Pacific, lightning density in an MCS maximizes during the time that the total number of systems begins to increase as the MJO is beginning to be more active, implying both more vigorous convection and less extensive stratiform rain areas at this transitional time of the MJO. The peak in MJO precipitation coincides with peak occurrence of interconnected MCSs with larger stratiform rain fraction, shown by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite, while composites of lightning frequency show that during MJO active periods the zone of lightning is contracted around the centers of MCSs, and flashes are less frequent.

Identifikasi Mesoscale Convective Complex (Mcc) Dan Dampaknya Terhadap Curah Hujan Di Benua Maritim Indonesia (Bmi) Sepanjang Tahun 2018

“…(2016) [5]; Cheng dan Houze (1979) [6]; Schumacher dkk. (2004) [7]; Virts dan Houze (2015) [8] mengkaji bahwa di daerah tropis 40-60% curah hujan yang dihasilkan oleh MCS berasosiasi dengan daerah dengan dominasi awan stratiform. Di lintang menengah, MCS dapat berperan dalam siklus hidrologi dan secara langsung dapat berdampak terhadap peningkatan curah hujan serta berasosiasi dengan berbagai bencana hidrometeorologi seperti banjir dan longsor akibat curah hujan ekstrem yang akan mempengaruhi ketersedian bahan pangan, tanaman dan aktivitas manusia [4][5][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Characteristics of two mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the Greater Jakarta: case of heavy rainfall period 15–18 January 2013

“…A number of studies on MCS have been widely taken in the tropics (e.g., Mohr and Zipser 1996;Zolman and Zipser 2000;Yuan and Houze 2010;Virts and Houze 2015;Putri et al 2017Putri et al , 2018. However, research on MCS in IMC is still very limited, i.e., the general life cycle of MCS in IMC (Putri et al 2017) and the certain cases of MCS events in Sumatra and Java (Putri et al 2018) using satellite data.…”

Quantification of Observed Electrical Effect on the Raindrop Size Distribution in Tropical Clouds

“…Many studies have shown that deep tropical convection is more likely associated with lightning activity (Kodama et al, ; Morita et al, ). Virts and Houze () studied the characteristics of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in regions affected by the Madden‐Julian Oscillation and found that during all Madden‐Julian Oscillation phases, lightning frequency decreases with distance from the center of the MCS; however, during suppressed periods, the area of enhanced lightning extends to the surroundings from the convective core. Many studies of electrical properties of MCSs have found that the stratiform regions of MCSs can be highly electrified (MacGorman et al, ; Williams et al, ).…”