Premium
Behavior of GPS‐derived precipitable water vapor in the mountain lee after the passage of a cold front
Author(s) -
Okamura Osamu,
Kimura Fujio
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl017572
Subject(s) - mesoscale meteorology , cold front , orographic lift , front (military) , precipitation , geology , precipitable water , climatology , water vapor , meteorology , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , geography , oceanography
A mesoscale precipitation system generated half a day after a cold front passed over the Kanto Plain in the lee of the Chubu Mountains, Japan. The behavior of precipitable water vapor (PWV) associated with this precipitation system was investigated by the use of a dense Global Positioning System (GPS) network. After the passage of the cold front, a high‐level PWV zone was persistently observed over the Kanto Plain. The mesoscale precipitation system was induced in this zone. A numerical study indicated that the orographic effects on the prevailing wind are very important for sustaining the high‐level PWV zone over the Kanto Plain.