Scientists investigate continent-wide 'moisture conveyor belt' behind extreme monsoon rains
Weather scientists have long known that typhoons even hundreds of kilometers away from the Philippines can interact with the southwest monsoon, resulting in multiday heavy rains. But the exact dynamics of this relationship remained largely unknown until recently.
Scientists have uncovered the complex dynamics behind extreme southwest monsoon rains in the Philippines, which can last for several days and cause devastating flooding. A new study led by the Ateneo de Manila University VORTEX Research Lab and the Manila Observatory, in collaboration with PAGASA and Tokyo Metropolitan University, has identified a "moisture conveyor belt" (MCB) that transports water vapor from the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
This MCB is formed when a strengthened monsoon, a tropical cyclone northeast of the country, and favorable atmospheric conditions align, creating a chain reaction that leads to heavy rainfall. The researchers analyzed 53 extreme Habagat events linked to tropical cyclones between 1981 and 2023, revealing that these severe rainfall events are not random but follow a common pattern.
This discovery could help improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, enabling predictions of high-impact southwest monsoon events up to several days in advance.
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