Large-Scale Variability of Atmospheric Deep Convection in Relation to Sea Surface Temperature in the Tropics

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Abstract
Empirical relationships between tropical sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric deep convection are examined. Large-scale features of tropical deep convection are estimated from two independent satellite datasets: monthly mean outgoing longwave radiation of 15 years and high-resolution pentad (5 day) fractional coverage of infrared radiation histograms of 5 years. Results based on the two datasets lead to the same conclusions. The relationships are addressed from two aspects: how deep convection varies with changing SST and how it varies at constant SST. Deep convection remains weak and rarely observed for SST 27°C, situations of no deep convection and vigorous deep convection can both be observed; the areas coverage of convectively related high clouds is always dominated by that ... Abstract Empirical relationships between tropical sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric deep convection are examined. Large-scale features of tropical deep convection are estimated from two independent satellite datasets: monthly mean outgoing longwave radiation of 15 years and high-resolution pentad (5 day) fractional coverage of infrared radiation histograms of 5 years. Results based on the two datasets lead to the same conclusions. The relationships are addressed from two aspects: how deep convection varies with changing SST and how it varies at constant SST. Deep convection remains weak and rarely observed for SST 27°C, situations of no deep convection and vigorous deep convection can both be observed; the areas coverage of convectively related high clouds is always dominated by that ...

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