Precipitation Spectra Analysis over China with High-Resolution Measurements from Optimally-Merged Satellite/Gauge Observations - Part II: Diurnal Variability Analysis

Timing and diurnal variation of summer precipitation is analyzed over China using a new high-resolution (0.1°, hourly) satellite-gauge merged surface rainfall dataset that spans from 2008 through 2013. The results show that: 1) both precipitation amount (PA) and frequency (PF) show strong diurnal cycles with local solar time (LST); 2) peak times of PA (PAPT) primarily occur from 15 LST to 00 LST in most parts of the Tibet Plateau (TP), Xinjiang (XJ), Northwestern China (NW), Northeastern China (NE), and Southern China (SC), and the PAPT occurs from 00 LST to 09 LST in southern TP, Eastern XJ, western NW, southern NE, eastern Northern China (NC), and most parts of Southwestern China (SW); 3) the PAPT transitions eastward with time, occurring at ∼15 LST in central TP, at midnight in SW, and at 15-18 LST in the eastern coastal regions that are in the lower reach of Yangtze River and in the north side of Wuyi Mountains; 4) peak times of PF (PFPT) show a similar spatial pattern with PAPT, but with a small temporal (1-2 h) lead; 5) peak times of precipitation intensity (PIPT) occur during the 18-00 LST time frame in the southeastern TP and central SW regions. The PIPT along the upper Yangtze River valley occurs around 00-06 LST. The PIPT occurs in the morning at around 06-09 LST in the mid-lower Yangtze River valley and most parts of SC. This study on the diurnal cycle of precipitation over China can be used as a reference to validate atmospheric and hydrologic models, and also to guide hydrometerological research and applications.