The late spring Caribbean rain belt: climatology and dynamics
- Year: 2017
- Type: Journal
- Region: Caribbean
- Programs: IRAP Publication
- Author(s): Theodore L. Allen; Brian E. Mapes
- caribbean, Caribbean Early Rainfall Season, Caribbean Precipitation, Caribbean Rain-belt, Mid-summer Drought, precipitation
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This study examines the dynamics of late spring rainfall (the Early Rainy Season, ERS) in the Caribbean region, in hopes of identifying mechanisticbased predictors for lowfrequency climate modulations of the system. The subtropical Caribbean rainbelt develops in May as seasonal warming proceeds. By July, the rainbelt retreats north apparently following the westerlies and their vigorous synoptic disturbances. Daily climatology data suggest a physical definition of the Caribbean ERS as midMay to midlate June. Based on an examination of daily loops for several seasons, we hypothesize that rainfall occurs quasirandomly throughout tongues of air with sufficiently high (above 4550mm) precipitable water (PW). These moist airmasses are brought north from the deep tropics by lowlevel southerlies, and typically bent over into SWNE bands by latitudinal shear of the westerlies. The lowlevel flow that transports PW tongues is partly induced by upperlevel synoptic disturbances in the westerlies, but also involves the gentle persistent flow around a geographically anchored Panama Low. While forced ascent is sometimes active ahead of these upperlevel troughs, convective and mesoscale processes can produce rain wherever PW is sufficient. In summary, we hypothesize that rainfall hinges largely on the Lagrangian statistics of moist air tongues. Comparison is drawn between the Caribbean rainbelt and its East Asian counterpart (MeiyuBaiu), and other mechanisms and diagnostics from that literature are discussed. Statistical prediction exercises, based on mechanistically chosen predictors, could both test hypotheses and aid local agricultural interests in the region.