INTENSIFICATION OF PRECIPITATION BY DIFFERENTIAL ADVECTION

Abstract

The effect of vertical instability on the intensity of precipitation is illustrated by a theoretical example. This example and others from the literature lead to the hypothesis that instability produced by a process such as advection of cold air over warm, moist air acts on a precipitation system to increase the total amount and to cause high intensities for short periods over small areas. The latter part of the hypothesis is verified by an analysis of 21 rainy periods in the eastern United States.