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Mesoscale Convective Systems and Extreme Precipitation on the West African Coast Linked to Ocean-Atmosphere Conditions during the Monsoon Period in the Gulf of Guinea
Djakouré, S.; Amouin, J.; Kouadio, K.Y.; Kacou, M. Mesoscale Convective Systems and Extreme Precipitation on the West African Coast Linked to Ocean–Atmosphere Conditions during the Monsoon Period in the Gulf of Guinea. Atmosphere2024, 15, 194.
Djakouré, S.; Amouin, J.; Kouadio, K.Y.; Kacou, M. Mesoscale Convective Systems and Extreme Precipitation on the West African Coast Linked to Ocean–Atmosphere Conditions during the Monsoon Period in the Gulf of Guinea. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 194.
Djakouré, S.; Amouin, J.; Kouadio, K.Y.; Kacou, M. Mesoscale Convective Systems and Extreme Precipitation on the West African Coast Linked to Ocean–Atmosphere Conditions during the Monsoon Period in the Gulf of Guinea. Atmosphere2024, 15, 194.
Djakouré, S.; Amouin, J.; Kouadio, K.Y.; Kacou, M. Mesoscale Convective Systems and Extreme Precipitation on the West African Coast Linked to Ocean–Atmosphere Conditions during the Monsoon Period in the Gulf of Guinea. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 194.
Abstract
This study investigates the importance of convective systems for extreme rainfall along the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea (GG) and their relationship with atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Convective system data (MCSs), daily precipitation, sea surface temperature (SST) and moisture flux anomalies are used from June to September 2007-2016. The results show that 2/3 of MCSs crossing Abidjan are produced in June, which is the core of the major rainy season. Likewise, 2/3 of MCSs originate from continental areas, while 1/3 comes from the ocean. Oceanic MCSs are mostly initiated close to the coast, which also corresponds to the Marine Heat Waves region. Continental MCSs are mostly initiated inland. The results also highlight the moisture flux contribution of three zones which have an impact on the onset and the sustaining of MCSs: (i) the seasonal migration of ITCZ, (ii) the GG across the northern coastline, (iii) and finally the continent. These contributions of moisture fluxes coincide with oceanic warming off the Northeast Brazil and the northern coast of the GG both two days before and the day of extreme rainfall events. The ocean contributes to moisten the atmosphere, and therefore to supply and sustain the MCSs during their lifecycle.
Keywords
Mesoscale Convective System; extreme rainfall; West African Monsoon; ocean-atmosphere conditions; Gulf of Guinea
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
