Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (9): 1369-1381.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.09.01

• Weather and Climate • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation in five Central Asian countries based on FY-4A quantitative precipitation estimates

CHEN Aijun1,2,3(),Yin 1,2,3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu, China
    2. China Meteorological Administration Aerosol-Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu, China
    3. School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2023-02-28 Revised:2023-04-18 Online:2023-09-15 Published:2023-09-28

Abstract:

The FY-4A Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) product is crucial for comprehensive research on precipitation patterns and spatiotemporal distribution across Central Asian (CA) countries. In this study, FY-4A QPE data quality was evaluated using the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement Final run (IMERG-F), and the precipitation characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution over five CA countries were subsequently examined. The main findings were as follows. (1) FY-4A QPE accurately reflected precipitation spatial disparities across the CA countries, aligning well with the temporal changes of IMERG-F. (2) Annual average precipitation (AAP) exhibited substantial spatial variation over the CA countries in relation to altitude. High-altitude regions exceeded 500 mm AAP, encompassing <10% of the area, whereas low-altitude areas experienced <350 mm AAP, accounting for >90% of the region. (3) Precipitation distribution exhibited pronounced seasonality across the five CA countries. Summer exhibited the widest precipitation range, averaging >50 mm. Conversely, the autumn average, typically <40 mm, was the lowest. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan experienced sufficient precipitation year-round, with some areas showing an average >480 mm. However, central and western Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and northern Turkmenistan received <40 mm. (4) According to clustering of areas with a monthly average precipitation exceeding 40 mm, the five CA countries were classified into four spatial distribution types: point discrete, drought, semi-dry and semi-wet, and sandwich. (5) In summer across the five CA countries, areas with elevated precipitation density displayed a near 3-hour cyclic daily variation. Notably, one of these periods occurred from noon to the first half of the night. Furthermore, the predominant precipitation type was light rain, with a minor occurrence of moderate rain.

Key words: Fenyun-4A, quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), Central Asian, spatiotemporal distribution characteristics