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The spatial pattern of convective rainfall in Sukumaland, Tanzani — A statistical analysis

Das räumliche Verteilungsschema des konvektiven Regens in Sukumaland, Tanzania — Eine statistische Analyse

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Summary

The meso-scale structure of the short-term rainfall-distribution in a tropical, semi-arid area has been studied through an analysis of the correlation-distance relationship of daily rainfall data. A number of independent samples were employed. The rainfall-field has been found to be isotropic in relation to the correlation coefficient, at least within the range of 20–100 km, which reflects the relatively restricted storm motions in this area.

In general, storm cells do not occur singly at an isolated spot within the area; they develop concurrently with other cells, as part of a broader regional rainfall system. Typical distances at which storm-cells tend to develop have been identified. The distances are somewhat smaller in December and April than in other rainy months, with the average distance ranging between 40 and 60 km. Storm cells at twice that distance are also frequent.

Zusammenfassung

Es wurde die Meso-Struktur der Verteilung kurzdauernder Regenfälle in einem tropischen semiariden Gebiet durch eine Analyse der Entfernungsabhängigkeit der Korrelation zwischen täglichen Niederschlagsmengen an verschiedenen Orten untersucht. Dazu wurde eine Anzahl unabhängiger Fälle verwendet. Das Niederschlagsfeld wurde in bezug auf den Korrelationskoeffizienten als isotrop befunden, zumindest in dem Bereich von 20 bis 100 km, was die relativ beschränkten Bewegungen von Unwettern in diesem Gebiet widerspiegelt.

Im allgemeinen treten Unwetterzellen nicht einzeln an einem isolierten Platz in dem Gebiet auf; sie entwickeln sich vielmehr gleichzeitig mit anderen Zellen als Teile eines weitläufigen regionalen Niederschlagssystems. Es wurden typische Distanzen für die Neigung zur Entwicklung von Unwetterzellen festgestellt. Diese Distanzen sind im Dezember und April etwas kleiner als in anderen Regenmonaten mit durchschnittlichen Distanzen zwischen 40 und 60 km. Unwetterzellen von doppelt so großen Abständen treten ebenfalls häufig auf.

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Author notes

  1. David Sharon

    Present address: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

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    1. David Sharon
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    With 6 Figures

    This study was done in 1972/73, at Clark University, Worcester, Mass., U. S. A.

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    Sharon, D. The spatial pattern of convective rainfall in Sukumaland, Tanzani — A statistical analysis. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biokl. B. 22, 201–218 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02243468

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02243468

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