Australian scientists track hidden weather systems behind tropical rainfall
Researchers in Australia have identified and tracked moisture modes that contribute more to tropical rainfall than tropical cyclones.
New framework for tropical rain
Scientists published findings in the journal Weather and Climate Dynamics regarding these systems. This study identifies vast regions of high, cold cloud by analyzing satellite data gathered from 1984 through 2016. The researchers handled each cloud patch as a separate item and tracked their movement over time. The researchers analyzed the routes taken by the systems, their duration of survival, and their speed of movement.
Moisture modes versus cyclones
Christian Jakob of Monash University noted that tropical cyclones receive attention because of their major impacts. He stated that less dramatic systems occur much more frequently and are very important for rainfall. Muhamad Reyhan Respati, a Ph.D. student at Monash University, defined a moisture mode as an object. This definition allows the system to become a trackable object like a tropical cyclone.
Surprise alignment with theory
According to Martin Singh from Monash University, the findings matched the theoretical framework much more closely than anticipated. Usually, applying a theory to the atmosphere causes problems for researchers in this field. Seeing the system work so clearly in the real atmosphere was surprising for the team. These findings may assist in addressing a persistent shortfall in meteorological science concerning the evolution of tropical rainfall.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.