Characteristics of monsoon precipitation systems in and around Bangladesh

Characteristics of precipitation systems in and around Bangladesh are analysed using 6 years of radar data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Precipitation systems are classified as arc, line, or scattered types according to their shape; then as small, medium, or large according to their length; and as stationary, slow, or fast according to their propagation speed. Arc-, line-, and scattered-type systems are found 230 (29%), 117 (15%), and 442 (56%) times, respectively, from April to September during the analysis period (2000-2005). These arc-, line-, and scattered-type systems have average speeds of 11.0, 7.1, and 5.8 m/s, horizontal lengths of 185, 184, and 268 km, and approximate lifetimes of 4.3, 4.0, and 4.8 h, respectively. Scattered-type systems dominate in the monsoon period (June, July. August, and September), while arc-type systems dominate in the pre-monsoon period (April and May). Line-type systems occur with nearly equal frequency in both periods. The monsoon systems are large and stationary or slow moving. In contrast, pre-monsoon systems are small and fast moving. Pre-monsoon systems propagate southeastward whereas monsoon systems propagate to the northeast, northwest, or southeast. A large number of systems occur in the southern, eastern, and northern parts of Bangladesh. Of the 442 scattered-type systems, 244 are scattered-type systems having wide areal coverage (SWAC), which extends out of radar range, and speeds too small to calculate. About 97% of SWACs develop during the monsoon period and contribute greatly to monsoon rainfall in this region. Copyright (C) 2009 Royal Meteorological Society