A convectively-driven boundary layer in the monsoon trough

Characteristic features of the convectively driven monsoon-trough boundary layer have been explored using the conserved-variable method of analysis. Aerological observations during the Monsoon Trough Boundary Layer Experiment 1990 (MONTBLEX-90) during 18–20 August have been used to investigate the thermodynamic features of the Convective Boundary Layer (CBL). Thermodynamic parameters such as _e , _es have been used to study the dynamical aspects of the CBL. Also, mixed-layer heights at an inland station, in the monsoon trough region, obtained from SODAR, are used to document the saturation of the mixed layer after the onset of the monsoon.     

The Convective Boundary Layer over the Deccan Plateau,India during the summer monsoon

The thermodynamic structure of the Convective Boundary Layer (CBL) over the Deccan Plateau, India has been investigated using aerological data during the summer monsoon seasons of 1980 and 1981. Conserved-variable analysis and the saturation-point approach, which were used in this study, suggest that the top of the CBL varied between 700–600 mb during the monsoon. The air above the top of the CBL during a weak monsoon was estimated to have subsided for 4 days with a subsidence rate of 30 mb day^-1.     

Mechanism of high rainfall over the Indian west coast region during the monsoon season

The mechanism responsible for high rainfall over the Indian west coast region has been investigated by studying dynamical, thermodynamical and microphysical processes over the region for the monsoon season of 2009. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts wind and NCEP flux data have been used to study the large scale dynamical parameters. The moist adiabatic and multi-level inversion stratifications are found to exist during the high and low rainfall spells, respectively. In the moist adiabatic stratification regime, shallow and deep convective clouds are found coexisting. The Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement EXperiment aircraft data showed cloud updraft spectrum ranging from 1 to 10 m s^?1 having modal speed 1–2.5 m s^?1. The low updrafts rates provide sufficient time required for warm rain processes to produce rainfall from shallow clouds. The low cloud liquid water is observed above the freezing level indicating efficient warm rain process. The updrafts at the high spectrum end go above freezing level to generate ice particles produced due to mixed-phase rainfall process from deep convective clouds. With aging, deep convection gets transformed into stratiform type, which has been inferred through the vertical distribution of the large scale omega and heating fields. The stratiform heating, high latent heat flux, strong wind shear in the lower and middle tropospheric levels and low level convergence support the sustenance of convection for longer time to produce high rainfall spell. The advection of warm dry air in the middle tropospheric regions inhibits the convection and produce low rainfall spell. The mechanisms producing these spells have been summarized with the block diagram.     

Thermodynamic structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over the Arabian sea as revealed by MONSOON-77 data

The thermodynamic structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) over the Arabian sea region has been studied with the help of 135 aerological observations obtained during MONSOON-77 in the region (10–14° N, 64–68° E) by USSR research vessels. Low-level inversions were observed over the western Arabian sea region (west of 66° E) in association with suppressed convection. The different sublayers of the ABL, viz. the mixed layer, the cloud layer and the inversion/isothermal/stable layer were identified. The low-level stability analysis indicated that in the region east of 66° E, conditions were favourable for deep convection. The thermodynamic transformation of the boundary layer after precipitation was documented.     

Thermodynamic structure of the marine atmosphere over the region 80–87°E along 13°N during August (phase II) BOBMEX-99

Thermodynamic structure of the marine atmosphere in the region between 80 and 87‡E along 13‡N over the Bay of Bengal was studied using 13 high resolution radiosonde profiles from surface-400 hPa collected onboard ORV Sagar Kanya during the period 27th–30th August, during BOBMEX-99. Saturation point concept, mixing line analysis and conserved variable diagrams have been used to identify boundary layer characteristics such as air mass movement and stability of the atmosphere. The results showed relatively dry air near the ocean surface between 1000 and 950 hPa. This feature is confirmed by the conserved teta_v structure in this layer. Further, teta_v seldom showed any inversions in this region. The teta_e and teta_es profiles showed persistent low cloud layers between 900 and 700 hPa. The conserved variable diagrams (teta_e-q) showed the existence of double mixing line structures approximately at 950 and 700 hPa levels.     

Marine boundary layer characteristics during a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal

During the period 12–16 June 1996 a tropical cyclonic storm formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal and moved in a north-northeasterly direction. The thermodynamic characteristics of this system are investigated by utilizing the surface and upper air observations collected onboardORV Sagar Kanya over the Bay of Bengal region. The response of the cyclonic storm is clearly evident from the ship observations when the ship was within the distance of 600–800 km from the cyclonic storm. This study explores why (i) the whole atmosphere from surface to 500 hPa had become warm and moist during the cyclonic storm period as compared to before and after the formation of this system and (ii) the lower layer of the atmosphere had become stable during the formative stage of the cyclonic storm.     

Rainfall mechanism over the rain-shadow region of north peninsular India

Climate Dynamics - Rainfall mechanism over the rain-shadow region of north peninsular India during the summer monsoon season has been investigated using dynamic, thermodynamic, cloud microphysics...     

Intra-seasonal and Inter-annual variability of Bowen Ratio over rain-shadow region of North peninsular India

Intra-seasonal and inter-annual variability of Bowen Ratio (BR) have been studied over the rain-shadow region of north peninsular India during summer monsoon season. Daily grid point data of latent heat flux (LHF), sensible heat flux (SHF) from NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis for the period 1970–2014 have been used to compute daily area-mean BR. Daily grid point rainfall data at a resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° from APHRODITE’s Water Resources for the available period 1970–2007 have been used to study the association between rainfall and BR. The study revealed that BR rapidly decreases from 4.1 to 0.29 in the month of June and then remains nearly constant at the same value (≤0.1) in the rest of the season. High values of BR in the first half of June are indicative of intense thermals and convective clouds with higher bases. Low values of BR from July to September period are indicative of weak thermals and convective clouds with lower bases. Intra-seasonal and inter-annual variability of BR is found to be inversely related to precipitation over the region. BR analysis indicates that the land surface characteristics of the study region during July–September are similar to that over oceanic regions as far as intensity of thermals and associated cloud microphysical properties are concerned. Similar variation of BR is found in El Nino and La Nina years. During June, an increasing trend is observed in SHF and BR and decreasing trend in LHF from 1976 to 2014. Increasing trend in the SHF is statistically significant.

     

Convective boundary layer in the region of the Monsoon Trough—A case study

A case study of the convectively driven monsoon boundary layer has been carried out using the aerological ob-servations at four stations in the region of monsoon trough during Monsoon Trough Boundary Layer Experiment (MONTBLEX) 1988. The Convective Boundary Layer (CBL) in the region of monsoon trough did not show double mixing line structure. A single mixing line representing the CBL with different stabilities with respect to the convective activities was observed.