Seasonal Variations in the Diurnal Characteristics of Heavy Hourly precipitation across the United States

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Abstract
Hourly precipitation data from 1967 to 1983 for the coterminous, United States were harmonically analyzed in order to document the diurnal variability of several categories of heavy hourly precipitation during winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The analysis revealed that the diurnal characteristics of hourly precipitation vary considerably with season, geographic region, and precipitation intensity. During winter and spring, a weak, late-morning frequency maximum prevails for the lightest (2.5–6.2 mm h−1) precipitation category. As intensity increases (to 6.3–12.6, 12.7–25.3, and ⩾25.4 mm h−1), the amplitude of the diurnal cycle also increases, and a nocturnal maximum becomes apparent across much of the eastern and central United States. In summer, the diurnal cycle is strongly modulated for all categories. The nocturnal region decreases in areal extent at this time of year, as an afternoon maximum becomes established across the southern and eastern states. In autumn, the nocturnal region again ... Abstract Hourly precipitation data from 1967 to 1983 for the coterminous, United States were harmonically analyzed in order to document the diurnal variability of several categories of heavy hourly precipitation during winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The analysis revealed that the diurnal characteristics of hourly precipitation vary considerably with season, geographic region, and precipitation intensity. During winter and spring, a weak, late-morning frequency maximum prevails for the lightest (2.5–6.2 mm h−1) precipitation category. As intensity increases (to 6.3–12.6, 12.7–25.3, and ⩾25.4 mm h−1), the amplitude of the diurnal cycle also increases, and a nocturnal maximum becomes apparent across much of the eastern and central United States. In summer, the diurnal cycle is strongly modulated for all categories. The nocturnal region decreases in areal extent at this time of year, as an afternoon maximum becomes established across the southern and eastern states. In autumn, the nocturnal region again ...

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