the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
| 17 Jan 2024
Tracking precipitation features and associated large-scale environments over southeastern Texas
Abstract. Deep convection initiated under different large-scale environments exhibits different precipitation features and interacts with local meteorology and surface properties in distinct ways. Here, we analyze the characteristics and spatiotemporal patterns of different types of convective systems over southeastern Texas using 13 years of high-resolution observations and reanalysis data. We find that mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) contribute significantly to both mean and extreme precipitation in all seasons, while isolated deep convection (IDC) plays a role in intense precipitation during summer and fall. Using self-organizing maps (SOMs), we found that convection can occur under unfavorable conditions without large-scale lifting or moisture convergence. In spring, fall and winter, frontal-related large-scale meteorological patterns (LSMPs) characterized by baroclinic waves and low-level moisture convergence act as primary triggers for convection, while the remaining storms are associated with an anticyclone pattern and orographic lifting. In summer, IDC are mainly associated with front-related and anticyclones LSMPs, while MCSs occur more in frontal-related LSMPs. We further tracked the lifecycle of MCSs and IDC using the Flexible Object Tracker algorithm over southeastern Texas. MCSs frequently initiate west of Houston, travelling eastward for around 8 hours to southeastern Texas, while IDC initiate locally. The average duration of MCSs in southeastern Texas is 6.1 hours, approximately 4.1 times the duration of IDC. Diurnally, the initiation of convection associated with favorable LSMPs peak at 1100 UTC, 3 hours earlier than those associated with anticyclones.
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Notice on discussion status
The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
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Preprint
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
- Preprint
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- Final revised paper
Journal article(s) based on this preprint
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-112', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Jan 2024
With 13-year high-resolution observations and reanalysis data, this study investigated the characteristics and spatiotemporal patterns of different types of convective systems over southeast Texas, and it found that mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are essential to both mean and extreme precipitation in all seasons, while isolated deep convection (IDC) is more important for the intense precipitation during summer and fall. And with the help of self-organizing maps (SOMs), it demonstrated frontal-related and anticyclones large-scale meteorological patterns (LSMPs) for convection. Then it discussed the lifecycle of MCSs and IDC over southeastern Texas. Generally, the manuscript is well written, and the results are reasonable. My concerns are listed in the following.
- Line 113-114：How many leading empirical orthogonal functions of the input vector are used for the initial nodes for SOM clustering?
- Line 149: What are the baroclinic waves observed in Fig. 3a, c, d?
- Line 215-216: I cannot see the weak westerly winds prevails east of the Rocky Mountains (Fig. 6a).
- Line 223-224: If the three frontal LSMPs depict different stages of a frontal passages, they should be continuous in time, any evidences to show it? According to the different explanation ratios of 27%, 23% and 22% of MCS occurrences by the three LSMPs, it seems that some of them do not appear successively.
- Line 237-238: As for the statement that there are no significant moisture anomalies and air stacking in summer than in spring, it’s a little strange that summer environment should be more moist and warmer as mentioned by the authors.
- Line 322-323: How to conclude that the convection is primarily triggered by the sea-breeze circulation when an anticyclone dominates the area? Does the convection usually occur in the daytime due to the land-sea thermal contrast? It seems to be true according to Fig. 12. However, on the other hand, since the sea-breeze circulation can appear in all the four seasons, why are more IDC triggered in the nocturnal and early morning especially in spring and winter (Line 340)?
- Line 361-363: is the orographic lifting mechanism unfavorable large-scale condition for the deep convection?
- Line 149: (Fig. 3a, b, d) should be (Fig. 3a, c, d); Line 214: (Fig. 6a-6c) should be (Fig. 6a-6c, Fig. 7a-7c).
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-112-RC1 -
AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-112/egusphere-2024-112-AC1-supplement.pdf
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RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-112', Anonymous Referee #2, 08 Feb 2024
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AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-112/egusphere-2024-112-AC3-supplement.pdf
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AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
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RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-112', Anonymous Referee #3, 14 Feb 2024
This article provides an excellent work on local to large scale interaction of meteorological parameters for precipitation. It well defines the mesoscale and isolated convective systems over southeastern Texas region. There are some minor revisions needed before acceptance of the manuscript.
- In introduction, provide more detailed description of local scale features and precipitation over Texas region.
- Line number 44: “four large-scale meteorological patterns…...”. What are these four? Please explain.
- What is the reason of taking 2004 – 2017 year for analysis?
- In Figure 2 and 3, are those days are only precipitation days or all days in each season?
- In Figure 4 and 5, provide latitude values along y-axis for a, f, & k subplots, and longitude values along x-axis for q, r, s, & t subplots.
- How have you calculated pre-front, front, and post-front? Is it based on days or hours? Is it depending on any meteorological conditions?
- In Figure 6 and 7, it is better to remove wind vector text near to color bar, as it is confusing. What is the difference between red and black wind vectors?
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-112-RC3 -
AC2: 'Reply on RC3', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-112/egusphere-2024-112-AC2-supplement.pdf
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
-
RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-112', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Jan 2024
With 13-year high-resolution observations and reanalysis data, this study investigated the characteristics and spatiotemporal patterns of different types of convective systems over southeast Texas, and it found that mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are essential to both mean and extreme precipitation in all seasons, while isolated deep convection (IDC) is more important for the intense precipitation during summer and fall. And with the help of self-organizing maps (SOMs), it demonstrated frontal-related and anticyclones large-scale meteorological patterns (LSMPs) for convection. Then it discussed the lifecycle of MCSs and IDC over southeastern Texas. Generally, the manuscript is well written, and the results are reasonable. My concerns are listed in the following.
- Line 113-114：How many leading empirical orthogonal functions of the input vector are used for the initial nodes for SOM clustering?
- Line 149: What are the baroclinic waves observed in Fig. 3a, c, d?
- Line 215-216: I cannot see the weak westerly winds prevails east of the Rocky Mountains (Fig. 6a).
- Line 223-224: If the three frontal LSMPs depict different stages of a frontal passages, they should be continuous in time, any evidences to show it? According to the different explanation ratios of 27%, 23% and 22% of MCS occurrences by the three LSMPs, it seems that some of them do not appear successively.
- Line 237-238: As for the statement that there are no significant moisture anomalies and air stacking in summer than in spring, it’s a little strange that summer environment should be more moist and warmer as mentioned by the authors.
- Line 322-323: How to conclude that the convection is primarily triggered by the sea-breeze circulation when an anticyclone dominates the area? Does the convection usually occur in the daytime due to the land-sea thermal contrast? It seems to be true according to Fig. 12. However, on the other hand, since the sea-breeze circulation can appear in all the four seasons, why are more IDC triggered in the nocturnal and early morning especially in spring and winter (Line 340)?
- Line 361-363: is the orographic lifting mechanism unfavorable large-scale condition for the deep convection?
- Line 149: (Fig. 3a, b, d) should be (Fig. 3a, c, d); Line 214: (Fig. 6a-6c) should be (Fig. 6a-6c, Fig. 7a-7c).
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-112-RC1 -
AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-112/egusphere-2024-112-AC1-supplement.pdf
-
RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-112', Anonymous Referee #2, 08 Feb 2024
-
AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-112/egusphere-2024-112-AC3-supplement.pdf
-
AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
-
RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-112', Anonymous Referee #3, 14 Feb 2024
This article provides an excellent work on local to large scale interaction of meteorological parameters for precipitation. It well defines the mesoscale and isolated convective systems over southeastern Texas region. There are some minor revisions needed before acceptance of the manuscript.
- In introduction, provide more detailed description of local scale features and precipitation over Texas region.
- Line number 44: “four large-scale meteorological patterns…...”. What are these four? Please explain.
- What is the reason of taking 2004 – 2017 year for analysis?
- In Figure 2 and 3, are those days are only precipitation days or all days in each season?
- In Figure 4 and 5, provide latitude values along y-axis for a, f, & k subplots, and longitude values along x-axis for q, r, s, & t subplots.
- How have you calculated pre-front, front, and post-front? Is it based on days or hours? Is it depending on any meteorological conditions?
- In Figure 6 and 7, it is better to remove wind vector text near to color bar, as it is confusing. What is the difference between red and black wind vectors?
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-112-RC3 -
AC2: 'Reply on RC3', Ye Liu, 04 Apr 2024
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-112/egusphere-2024-112-AC2-supplement.pdf
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Yun Qian
Larry K. Berg
Jianfeng Li
Jingyi Chen
Zhao Yang
The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
- Preprint
(9970 KB) - Metadata XML