Spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation microphysical characteristics over the Tianshan Mountains based on GPM/DPR observations

A study analyzing precipitation data from March 2014 to February 2023, using Level-3 GPM/DPR products, sheds light on the spatiotemporal distribution of microphysical characteristics over the Tianshan Mountains. The research reveals that stratiform precipitation, while generally weak, covers a broad area and accounts for more than 60% of the average near-surface precipitation annually, with the majority of precipitation rates staying below 4 mm h⁻¹.

Winter months see this contribution rise to 90%. Conversely, convective precipitation is much more intense, with maximum rates often surpassing 4 mm h⁻¹ and reflectivity between 29 and 38 dBZ, occasionally reaching up to 41 dBZ. This type of precipitation is primarily observed in summer over the western Tianshan and windward slopes.

The storm-top height for convective precipitation generally ranges between 4 to 7 km, but can exceed 8 km, with a clear west-to-east decreasing trend influenced by the region's topography. The vertical distribution of liquid, ice, and total hydrometeors shows higher concentrations over the western Tianshan and windward slopes, though absolute maximums should be viewed with caution due to potential visual distortions from smoothing and varying color scales.

This satellite-based research offers valuable insights into understanding precipitation processes and microphysical mechanisms in complex mountainous regions, with support from various Chinese research institutions.