Phase differences between rainfall and its sources in the tropical deep convective regime: A partitioning analysis based on the surface rainfall budget

A partitioning scheme based on surface rainfall processes is applied to a lag correlation analysis between tropical rainfall and its sources in this study. The rainfall sources include convective available potential energy (CAPE), water vapor source (water vapor convergence plus surface evaporation), and net condensation (condensation and deposition minus evaporation of rain). The analysis is carried out using a 21-day TOGA COARE cloud-resolving model simulation data. Maximum model domain mean surface rainfall leads the minimum mean CAPE by 6 h and is phase locking with the maximum mean net condensation mainly through the rainfall associated with water vapor convergence. Maximum mean surface rainfall lags the maximum mean water vapor source by 3 h mainly through the rainfall type associated with local atmospheric drying, water vapor divergence, and hydrometeor loss/convergence.

► Maximum mean rain leads minimum mean CAPE by 6 h.
► Maximum mean rain lags maximum mean vapor source by 3 h.
► Maximum mean rain is phase locking with maximum mean net condensation.