A QUANTITATIVE METHOD FOR THE PREDICTION OF RAINFALL PATTERNS

Abstract

Under certain assumptions, the vertical motion in the low and middle troposphere is directed upward in regions where the relative vorticity decreases downstream along the streamlines at 300 millibars, and inverse. Computations covering 16 observed charts show that, in general, at least some rainfall reaches the ground where upward motion should be present in accordance with the above. Fourteen charts giving actual 24-hour predictions show that this approach can be used to aid in the forecasting of precipitation patterns.