Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China

We investigated the relative humidity (RH) vertical distribution characteristics before precipitation using microwave radiometer measurements over southeast China in 2021. The superposed epoch method is used to analyze the profile and vertical statistical characteristics and evolution of RH during p...

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Main Authors: Yongjiang Yu, Yan Zou, Weihua Pan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/3/513
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author Yongjiang Yu
Yan Zou
Weihua Pan
author_facet Yongjiang Yu
Yan Zou
Weihua Pan
author_sort Yongjiang Yu
collection DOAJ
description We investigated the relative humidity (RH) vertical distribution characteristics before precipitation using microwave radiometer measurements over southeast China in 2021. The superposed epoch method is used to analyze the profile and vertical statistical characteristics and evolution of RH during precipitation events. There is a shallow, high-humidity area on the ground, with a thickness of about 0.1–0.2 Km, from 12 to 8 h before precipitation. An obvious dry layer appears in the lower layer near the ground 8–0 h before precipitation, with a thickness of about 1 km and humidity of less than 80%, which continues until the appearance of precipitation. The water vapor content in the air begins to accumulate and the humidity increases before the occurrence of LRs, MRs, and HRs, classified by total rainfall. The SDPs, MDPs, and LDPs, which are classified by precipitation duration, showed more obvious and significant characteristics of humidity increase. The statistical analysis of the 44 precipitation cases shows that the relative humidity on the ground and in the air increases significantly before precipitation, and the vertical distribution of the relative humidity and the increase in the water vapor content in the air have a more direct and obvious impact on the precipitation duration. The deep and high-humidity area of 2–4 km is conducive to maintaining the precipitation process for a long time.
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spelling doaj.art-4d3f4c7d23524aaa91cb9e4f8e3af3db2023-11-17T09:32:48ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-03-0114351310.3390/atmos14030513Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast ChinaYongjiang Yu0Yan Zou1Weihua Pan2Fujian Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaFujian Climate Centre, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaWe investigated the relative humidity (RH) vertical distribution characteristics before precipitation using microwave radiometer measurements over southeast China in 2021. The superposed epoch method is used to analyze the profile and vertical statistical characteristics and evolution of RH during precipitation events. There is a shallow, high-humidity area on the ground, with a thickness of about 0.1–0.2 Km, from 12 to 8 h before precipitation. An obvious dry layer appears in the lower layer near the ground 8–0 h before precipitation, with a thickness of about 1 km and humidity of less than 80%, which continues until the appearance of precipitation. The water vapor content in the air begins to accumulate and the humidity increases before the occurrence of LRs, MRs, and HRs, classified by total rainfall. The SDPs, MDPs, and LDPs, which are classified by precipitation duration, showed more obvious and significant characteristics of humidity increase. The statistical analysis of the 44 precipitation cases shows that the relative humidity on the ground and in the air increases significantly before precipitation, and the vertical distribution of the relative humidity and the increase in the water vapor content in the air have a more direct and obvious impact on the precipitation duration. The deep and high-humidity area of 2–4 km is conducive to maintaining the precipitation process for a long time.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/3/513relative humiditymicrowave radiometer datatotal rainfallprecipitation durationvertical distribution
spellingShingle Yongjiang Yu
Yan Zou
Weihua Pan
Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China
Atmosphere
relative humidity
microwave radiometer data
total rainfall
precipitation duration
vertical distribution
title Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China
title_full Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China
title_fullStr Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China
title_full_unstemmed Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China
title_short Study of Relative Humidity Vertical Distribution Characteristics before Precipitation by Microwave Radiometer Data over Southeast China
title_sort study of relative humidity vertical distribution characteristics before precipitation by microwave radiometer data over southeast china
topic relative humidity
microwave radiometer data
total rainfall
precipitation duration
vertical distribution
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/3/513
work_keys_str_mv AT yongjiangyu studyofrelativehumidityverticaldistributioncharacteristicsbeforeprecipitationbymicrowaveradiometerdataoversoutheastchina
AT yanzou studyofrelativehumidityverticaldistributioncharacteristicsbeforeprecipitationbymicrowaveradiometerdataoversoutheastchina
AT weihuapan studyofrelativehumidityverticaldistributioncharacteristicsbeforeprecipitationbymicrowaveradiometerdataoversoutheastchina