JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2017

Presentation information

[EE] Poster

M (Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary) » M-TT Technology & Techniques

[M-TT38] [EE] New phase of GPS/GNSS application as an integrated earth observation system

Tue. May 23, 2017 5:15 PM - 6:30 PM Poster Hall (International Exhibition Hall HALL7)

[MTT38-P06] Relationships among Rainfall Distribution, Surface Wind, and Precipitable Water Vapor derived from GNSS during Localized Heavy Rainfall in Tokyo in Summer

*Yoshihito Seto1, Hitoshi Yokoyama2, Tsuyoshi Nakatani2, Haruo Ando3, Nobumitsu Tsunematsu3, Yoshinori Shoji4, Kenichi Kusunoki4, Masaya Nakayama5, Yuto Saitoh6, Hideo Takahashi1 (1.Department of Geography, Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 2.National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience, 3.Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute for Environmental Protection, 4.Meteorological Research Institute, 5.Information Technology Center, the University of Tokyo, 6.West Nippon Expressway Company Limited)

Keywords:localized heavy rainfall, wind convergence, water vapor, high-density observation network

In recent years, short-term heavy-rainfall events that have caused various damages such as flooding have frequently occurred in the Tokyo Metropolitan area in summer. This study aims to clarify the evolutionary process of short-term heavy rainfall as a contribution to short-range forecasting of heavy rainfall that occurs locally.

The relationships between the occurrence of intense rainfall and the convergence of surface winds and water vapor concentration for typical heavy-rainfall cases were examined using data from July to August in 2011–2013 obtained from high-density meteorological observations in Tokyo, Japan. Additionally, the differences in the temporal variations in wind convergence and water vapor between days with and without heavy rainfall events were compared.

Corresponding to the heavy-rainfall area, the convergence of surface winds tended to increase for several tens of minutes prior to the heavy rainfall. The peak of convergence was observed 10–30 min before the heavy-rainfall occurrence, and increasing of convergence continued for approximately 30 min until the convergence peak time. Around the heavy-rainfall area, the increase in the water vapor concentration index was observed coincide with the increasing of convergence. From these results, by monitoring the temporal variations and distributions of these parameters using a high-density observation network, it should be possible to predict the occurrence of heavy rainfall rapidly and accurately.

This study is supported by the S-8 Project, Comprehensive Research on Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Policies, implemented by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and Tokyo Metropolitan Area Convection Study for Extreme Weather Resilient Cities (TOMACS) under the Funds for Integrated Promotion of Social System Reform and Research and Development by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.