Thermodynamical and Dynamical Background Characteristics and Microphysical Structures of the Mesoscale Convective Systems Over the Tibetan Plateau: A 7‐Year Statistic
Abstract Tibetan Plateau mesoscale convective systems (TP_MCSs) shape regional weather and precipitation, yet their thermodynamical and dynamical background characteristics, and microphysical structures remain poorly understood due to sparse observations. To address this research gap, we integrate a 7‐year TP_MCS database with ERA5 reanalysis and satellite observations to construct vertical profiles, enabling a systematic examination of TP_MCSs' structures. Results reveal distinct stage‐dependent characteristics, with peak convective intensity, the lowest 0°C level, the largest hydrometeor diameters, and maximum rainfall rates during the development stage. TP_MCSs' convection intensity is modulated through coupled thermodynamical (temperature, humidity), dynamical (vertical motion, moisture transport), and microphysical (hydrometeor characteristics) interactions that regulate buoyancy, latent heating, and entrainment processes. Moreover, TP_MCSs' precipitation is governed by competing enhancement (buoyancy, moisture transport) and suppression (dry, cold entrainment) mechanisms. These findings are helpful to improve understanding of TP_MCSs' vertical structure and aid convection parameterization in climate models.
Authors
- Wei Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7686-775X)
- Juanjuan Liu
- Jianhua Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3069-1108)
- Shenming Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9670-0607)
- Yue Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3642-8198)
Institutions
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Beijing Meteorological Bureau (CN)
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Published
- 2025-08-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl116463
- Primary Topic
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China