An Investigation of the Local and Regional Environment of Intense Convective Systems in West Africa

各种规模和强度的对流系统是造成西非雨季降水的原因。 然而，降水的最大份额是由对流系统贡献的，其最低85 GHz亮温在最低的第10百分位数（135 K），表明存在强烈的，成熟的深对流。 本研究项目旨在更多地了解这些强对流系统的发展，制定了一个研究目标，建立区域环流，地形和地表状态如何创造一个环境，有利于强对流系统的发展。 为了实现这一研究目标，首席研究员将结合使用高分辨率微波卫星图像分析和云分辨率尺度上的水文气象建模，并得到地面观测和模型再分析的支持。 研究任务旨在揭示与强烈对流的高概率相关的垂直等效位温分布，并了解日表面加热梯度和大规模扰动等触发机制如何可能释放条件不稳定。该项目更广泛的影响是直接应用于改善西非从每日到季节时间尺度的天气和气候预测。 这项研究将有助于更好地理解和代表区域季风与陆面状态的相互作用，在强对流系统的发展。

Convective systems of a range of sizes and intensities are responsible for the wet season precipitation in West Africa. However, the largest share of the precipitation is contributed by convective systems whose minimum 85GHz brightness temperatures are in the lowest 10th percentile ( 135K), indicating the presence of intense, mature deep convection. This research project seeks to learn more about the development of these intense convective systems, formulating a research goal of establishing how the regional circulation, topography, and land surface state create an environment favorable to the development of intense convective systems. To achieve this research goal, the Principal Investigator will use a combination of analysis of high-resolution microwave satellite imagery and hydrometeorological modeling on the cloud-resolving scale, supported by surface observations and model reanalysis. The research tasks are aimed at revealing the vertical equivalent potential temperature profiles correlated with a high probability of intense convection and learning how triggering mechanisms such as diurnal surface heating gradients and large-scale disturbances might release conditional instability. The broader impact of the project is its direct application to improving the prediction of weather and climate from daily to seasonal time scales in West Africa. The research should contribute to a better understanding and representation of the interaction of the regional monsoon with the land surface state in the development of intense convective systems.