Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026

A Protocol for Conducting Rainfall Simulation to Study Soil Runoff
Published on: April 3, 2014
Weak linkage between the heaviest rainfall and tallest storms
Atsushi Hamada1, Yukari N Takayabu1, Chuntao Liu2
1Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8568, Japan.
Extreme rainfall is not always from the tallest storms. This study shows that most heavy rainfall events are linked to less intense convection, challenging traditional views on extreme weather.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Meteorology
- Climate Science
Background:
- Extreme rainfall is conventionally linked to intense, tall convective storms.
- The global relationship between extreme rainfall and convection is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the global relationship between extreme rainfall and convective storm characteristics.
- To identify the factors differentiating extreme rainfall events from other convective events.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of an 11-year dataset from spaceborne precipitation radar observations.
- Comparison of rainfall characteristics and environmental conditions for extreme rainfall events versus other convective events.
Main Results:
- A small fraction of extreme convective events generates extreme rainfall rates globally.
- Extreme rainfall events are associated with less intense convection and lower echo altitudes.
- Warm-rain processes are crucial for producing extreme rainfall rates.
Conclusions:
- The heaviest rainfall events are not necessarily associated with the most intense convection.
- Understanding convection characteristics is key to predicting extreme rainfall, even in regions prone to severe storms.
More Related Videos
10:46A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
10:28Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information
Published on: June 13, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Precipitation and Co-precipitation
Precipitation Processes
Precipitation Gravimetry
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
Relation Between the Distributed Load and Shear
What is Weather?
Coefficient of Correlation
If you suspect a linear relationship between x and y, then r can measure how strong the linear relationship is.
What the VALUE of r tells us:
The value of r is always between –1 and +1: –1 ≤ r ≤ 1.
The size of the correlation r indicates the...