Soil Moisture‐Cloud‐Precipitation Feedback in the Lower Atmosphere From Functional Decomposition of Satellite Observations
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The feedback of topsoil moisture (SM) content on convective clouds and precipitation is not well understood and represented in the current generation of weather and climate models. Here, we use functional decomposition of satellite-derived SM and cloud vertical profiles (CVP) to quantify the relationship between SM and the vertical distribution of cloud water in the central US. High-dimensional model representation is used to disentangle the contributions of SM and other land-surface and atmospheric variables to the CVP. Results show that the sign and strength of the SM-cloud-precipitation feedback varies with cloud height and time lag and displays a large spatial variability. Positive anomalies in antecedent 7-hr SM and land-surface temperature enhance cloud reflectivity up to 4 dBZ in the lower atmosphere about 1-3 km above the surface. Our approach presents new insights into the SM-cloud-precipitation feedback and aids in the diagnosis of land-atmosphere interactions simulated by weather and climate models.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2024gl110347
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,900
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Sight Research UK, Office of Science, Natural Environment Research Council, Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, Biological and Environmental Research, Los Alamos National Laboratory
OpenAlex ID: W4404621945