Open AccessLightning, radar reflectivity, infrared brightness temperature, and surface rainfall during the 2–4 July 2004 severe convective system over Taiwan area
Author(s) -
Wang KuoYing,
Liao ShunAn
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005jd006411
Subject(s) - radar , environmental science , lightning (connector) , meteorology , convective storm detection , storm , cloud top , altitude (triangle) , brightness temperature , atmospheric sciences , convection , satellite , geology , brightness , physics , optics , telecommunications , power (physics) , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , astronomy , computer science
On 2–4 July 2004, unusually severe convective systems developed over Taiwan area, following the passage of Typhoon Mindulle (10W, T0407). During the lifetime of these storms, total lightning was detected by the TPC SAFIR total lightning detection system, infrared cloud‐top temperatures were measured by the NOAA GOES‐9 satellite, radar reflectivity was observed by the CWB Doppler network, and hourly surface rainfall was measured by a network of high‐density raingauge stations. Using these data, we find that proxies published in previous research are useful for studying the evolution of convection in the July 2004 storm. This paper focuses on a 6‐hour portion of the “oceanic” storm's lifetime. Our study shows the following: (1) Middle‐level (at 6 km altitude) 40‐dBZ radar reflectivity and high‐level (at 12 km altitude) 20‐dBZ radar reflectivity are good indicators for tracking deep convective cells and total lightning. (2) Areas with infrared cloud‐top temperatures lower than −77°C, areas covered by 6‐km 40‐dBZ contours and 12‐km 20‐dBZ contours, and areas with intense surface rainfall are closely related to each other. (3) Column maximum radar reflectivities are good indicators for surface rainfall. The motion of the rain fields can be tracked by following the leading portion of areas defined by infrared cloud‐top temperatures lower than −72°C. The correlation between lightning, radar reflectivity, infrared cloud‐top temperatures, and heavy surface rainfall found in this work will be a critical test for models of storm processes.