DIURNAL VARIATION OF GLOBAL PRECIPITATION: AN ANALYSIS OF CMORPH DATA

In this study, the observed CMORPH precipitation data from 1998 to 2015 are used to analyze diurnal variation of global precipitation. The results reveal that the strong diurnal signals of precipitation occur over equatorial continental areas where the annual precipitation centers are located. The phase of diurnal variation of global precipitation reveals a distinct land-sea contrast with nocturnal peaks at sea and afternoon maxima over continents. The analysis of six selected area reveals that precipitation peak over equatorial land areas occur in afternoon and maximum diurnal signals appear in autumn or winter. Eastern equatorial Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) barely shows diurnal signals in the entire year. Precipitation over Sichuan Basin and northwestern Pacific shows nocturnal peak and the maximum diurnal amplitude in summer. Precipitation over coastal areas off eastern China shows an afternoon peak and the largest diurnal amplitude in summer.