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Some aspects of Florida convective rainfall
Author(s) -
Ulanski Stanley L.,
Garstang Michael
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr014i006p01133
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , storm , environmental science , convective storm detection , atmospheric sciences , climatology , convection , meteorology , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , geology , geotechnical engineering
A dense network of rain gages in an area of 660 km 2 in south Florida was operated for the summers of 1971 and 1973. More than 3 times as much rain fell in this network in the summer of 1973 than in 1971. The two periods are examined in order to understand the controls in convective rainfall which produce such contrasting amounts. It is found that the total duration and intensity of rain was about the same in both years. Well‐organized thunderstorms of large extent account for the bulk of the rainfall. These large storms occurred with a greater frequency in 1973 than in 1971. Days with single showers produced more rain than multishower days. The critical variable in determining convective rainfall amount is the size of the individual storm. These large storms appear to eliminate competition for the available moisture supply and are more efficient in converting that moisture to rainfall.