Convective cloud regimes from the classification of object-based
CloudSat observations over Asian-Australian monsoon areas
Abstract
The present study objectively classify the convective cloud objects
detected by the space-borne CloudSat radar over the Asian-Australian
monsoon region using the hierarchical agglomerative clustering
algorithm. Based on key properties representing the morphological
features and convective intensity of the systems, five distinct
convective cloud regimes are derived. The unique Coastal-Intense regime
exhibits the most expansive horizontal scales (> 1000 km),
high convective strength, the strongest cloud radiative effects, the
highest probability of extreme rainfall, and a significant coupling with
the sharp onset of the Asian summer monsoon circulation. Secondly, the
Coastal regime illustrates smaller but also highly organized coastal
convections, with the strongest convective strength. Less than 10% of
the systems in the CI and Coastal regimes overlap with the tropical
cyclones. The rest three regimes mark the less organized convection at
various life cycle stages mainly over the land areas, with small
seasonal variation in their occurrence.