Premium
A Simplified Algorithm to Estimate Latent Heating Rate Using Vertical Rainfall Profiles Over the Tibetan Plateau
Author(s) -
Li Rui,
Shao Wencheng,
Guo Jingchao,
Fu Yunfei,
Wang Yu,
Liu Guosheng,
Zhou Renjun,
Li Wenzhuo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2018jd029297
Subject(s) - precipitation , plateau (mathematics) , algorithm , meteorology , latent heat , radar , altitude (triangle) , quantitative precipitation forecast , environmental science , term (time) , convection , remote sensing , computer science , climatology , atmospheric sciences , mathematics , geology , geometry , physics , mathematical analysis , telecommunications , quantum mechanics
In this study, a simplified semiphysical retrieval algorithm for latent heat (LH) released from precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau is derived and analyzed. The physical basis of this algorithm is that the vertical gradient of rain rate (−dR/dZ or Γ) represents the temporal rate of rain formation based on the steady state assumption, and the precipitation formation rate is closely related to the cloud formation rate, which is directly proportional to the latent heating rate. In this algorithm, the LH rate is represented as a linear function of Γ with fixed slope and intercept term determined by 3‐month Weather Research and Forecasting Model simulations over the Tibetan Plateau. Comparison to model results shows that the retrieval scheme can correctly capture the main features of LH horizontally and vertically. Comparison with results from other two widely accepted LH algorithms using Global Precipitation Measurement Dual Precipitation Radar real observations shows that this retrieval scheme generally agrees with them over low‐altitude areas but yields more convective‐type LH over the highlands with a relatively low heating center. This algorithm is specially designed for application to high altitudes. With this algorithm and the associated coefficients provided, researchers can readily do LH retrieval in their cases of interest by themselves. The only required input is the vertical profile of rain rate, which is available from current satellite precipitation radar observations.