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Do the stability indices indicate the formation of deep convection?

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Abstract

The present study investigates the relation between the stability indices and different types of precipitating clouds during the active and the suppressed periods of deep convection of the Madden–Julian oscillation. This is achieved by utilizing three-hourly radiosonde (RS92) data and merged cloud radar data over the Gan Island (0.69°S, 73.15°E) from October 2011 to January, 2012. The active and the suppressed periods are defined based on the rainfall. Three periods of active (15–27 October, 15–28 November and 15–27 December) and suppressed periods (01–14 November, 0–14 December and 01–14 January) are identified. During the above periods, the stability indices are calculated to distinguish the background meteorological conditions. The analysis shows that during both the active and the suppressed periods, the magnitude of the stability indices are not much different. During both the periods, the indices attain their respective threshold corresponding to the occurrence of deep convection. However, the third suppressed period shows a dry condition compared to the other two suppressed periods. The relation between the stability indices and the precipitating cloud categories (shallow, congestus and deep) indicate that even though the threshold in the stability indices were attained, deep convective clouds were not observed during the suppressed periods. The active period correlates well with the stability indices. Therefore, the stability indices do not clearly and directly determine the state of the atmosphere during deep convection. The result shows stability indices need to be substantially improved in the context of deep convection prediction.

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Acknowledgements

The extensive contributions and dedication of many scientific and technical staffs from the United States, Taiwan and Japan led to the success of DYNAMO. We thank all of them for providing a unique data set over the Indian Ocean. One of the authors, SKD was supported by the UCAR-VSP at the Earth Observing Laboratory when some part of the study was initiated. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers and the editor for their constructive comments and suggestions on this manuscript which helped to improve the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum, 695022, India

    K. N. Uma

  2. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India

    S. K. Das

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  1. K. N. Uma
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  2. S. K. Das
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Correspondence to K. N. Uma.

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Responsible Editor: J. T. Fasullo.

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Uma, K.N., Das, S.K. Do the stability indices indicate the formation of deep convection?. Meteorol Atmos Phys 131, 1–10 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-017-0550-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-017-0550-9

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