Abstract
Tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) were identified using the 85 GHz ice-scattering channel for a La Nina year, and these MCSs were compared to MCSs identified in the same manner for an E1 Nino year (Mohr and Zipser 1996a, 1996b). The number, size, and intensity of the MCSs were examined for differences between the years in eighteen different regions. There are well documented patterns of anomalous precipitation due to El Nino and La Nina, and in general the MCS distributions between the two years tend to follow these patterns. There was a greater number of MCSs in the Central Pacific and East Pacific in the El Nino year and fewer MCSs in the Maritime Continent. The area distributions and median intensities of MCSs were found to be similar in each region from year to year. The number and total area of MCSs in a region were what changed between the years, rather than the intensities. The changes between the years in MCS distributions were also compared to differences in an independent estimate of rainfall for the two years, and they showed a strong relationship to the rain estimates.
Zolman, Jody Lynn (1999). A comparison of tropical mesoscale convective systems in El Nino and La Nina. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1999 -THESIS -Z65.