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Diurnal variations in summertime lightning activity in Tropical Asia
Author(s) -
Sen Roy Shouraseni,
Balling Robert C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.3658
Subject(s) - climatology , orographic lift , diurnal cycle , plateau (mathematics) , diurnal temperature variation , environmental science , global wind patterns , sea breeze , morning , lightning (connector) , atmospheric sciences , geography , precipitation , meteorology , geology , medicine , mathematical analysis , power (physics) , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Many meteorological phenomena exhibit distinctive diurnal variations that vary substantially from place to place. In this investigation, we use Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission data to assess spatial patterns in the diurnal variations of summertime lightning activity throughout tropical Asia. Harmonic analysis of the dataset reveals strong diurnal patterns in lightning activity with most locations exhibiting an afternoon maximum and a late‐night, early morning minimum. Notable exceptions include the eastern coastal areas of the Indian subcontinent and China, with the peak activity occurring in the early evening hours. We generally find that the diurnal patterns are related to orographic interactions as well as the seasonal wind circulation of onshore winds along the coastal areas. The strength of the cycle was relatively stronger in the interior of the continent particularly over northwestern India and the Tibetan plateau. Copyright © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society