Convective rain cell properties and the resulting precipitation scaling in a warm-temperate climate

Convective precipitation events have been shown to intensify at rates exceeding the Clausius-Clapeyron rate (CC rate) of ca. 7% K-1 under current climate conditions. In this study, we relate atmospheric variables (low-level dew point temperature, convective available potential energy, and vertical wind shear), which are regarded as ingredients for severe deep convection, to properties of convective rain cells (cell area, maximum precipitation intensity, lifetime, precipitation sum, and cell speed). The rain cell properties are obtained from a rain gauge-adjusted radar dataset in a mid-latitude region, which is characterized by a temperate climate with warm summers (Germany). Different Lagrangian cell properties scale with dew point temperature at varying rates. While the maximum precipitation intensity of cells scales consistently at the CC rate, the area and precipitation sum per cell scale at varying rates above the CC rate. We show that this super-CC scaling is caused by a covarying increase of convective available potential energy with dew point temperature. Wind shear increases the precipitation sum per cell mainly by increasing the spatial cell extent. From a Eulerian point of view, this increase is partly compensated by a higher cell velocity, which leads to Eulerian precipitation scaling rates close to and slightly above the CC rate. Thus, Eulerian scaling rates of convective precipitation are modulated by convective available potential energy and vertical wind shear, making it unlikely that present scaling rates can be applied to future climate conditions. Furthermore, we show that cells that cause heavy precipitation at fixed locations occur at low vertical wind shear and, thus, move relatively slowly compared to typical cells.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relationship between atmospheric variables and properties of convective rain cells, and finds that convective precipitation exceeds the Clausius-Clapeyron rate under current climate conditions. The study also reveals that different cell properties scale with dew point temperature at varying rates, and that wind shear increases precipitation by increasing the spatial cell extent.