Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2014

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Symbol A (Atmospheric, Ocean, and Environmental Sciences) » A-CG Complex & General

[A-CG37_28AM2] Multi-scale ocean-atmosphere interaction in the tropics

Mon. Apr 28, 2014 11:00 AM - 12:31 PM 423 (4F)

Convener:*Motoki Nagura(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Takuya Hasegawa(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Ayako Seiki(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Tomoki Tozuka(Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo), Hiroki Tokinaga(International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii), Masamichi Ohba(Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Environmental Science Research Laboratory), Yukiko Imada(Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo), Chair:Motoki Nagura(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Ayako Seiki(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)

11:40 AM - 11:55 AM

[ACG37-03] Observed moisture variations associated with shallow convection

*Hugo BELLENGER1, Masaki KATSUMATA1, Kunio YONEYAMA1, Tomoaki NISHIZAWA2, Kazuaki YASUNAGA3, Ryuichi SHIROOKA1 (1.JAMSTEC, 2.NIES, 3.University of Toyama)

Keywords:Convection, moisture, MJO, CINDY/DYNAMO, preconditionning, observation

The variability of tropospheric moisture is a key feature of tropical climate. In particular, the importanceof moisture variations due to convective transport is still to be quantified on a variety of spatial andtemporal scales. For instance, there is a debate on the importance of moisture convective transport inpreconditioning the atmosphere prior to deep convection development associated with the Madden--Julian Oscillation (MJO). We use here high frequency observations of humidity and convection in theIndian Ocean by lidars and radars on board the R/V Mirai during the CINDY/DYNAMO campaign.Significant moisture variations on the scale of few hours are observed within the first first kilometers ofthe atmosphere in association with shallow convective and congestus clouds. We then compare theselocal tendencies with large--scale ones and discuss the potential importance of convective transport byconvection in the moisture budget during the transition from convectively suppressed to convectivelyactive periods.