Climatological characteristics of thunderstorm clouds over the Tibetan Plateau indicated by TRMM/RPFs with lightning

The uploaded are the data associated with the figures in the paper titled "Climatological characteristics of thunderstorm clouds over the Tibetan Plateau indicated by TRMM/RPFs with lightning" which is submitted to the JGR.

Using radar precipitation feature (RPF) data from 1998 to 2014 derived from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observations, we analyzed the activity and properties of thunderstorm clouds (TCs) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and compared them with those over two contrasting land regions (CR1 and CR2). We revealed the properties of TCs over the TP including their flash rate, flash density, flash properties (duration, length and radiance), horizontal and vertical extent, and vertical profiles of reflectivity and compared them with those over CR1 and CR2. We further suggested a comparison of the effective charge regions (ECRs) in the TCs over the three regions and indicated the possible relationship between the flash rate of the TC and number of ECRs as well as between the flash density of the TC and the proportional ECR area. A conceptual sketch map was proposed that reveals the uniqueness of TCs over the TP. The results indicate that TCs over the central TP are most active; generally, the flash rates, flash properties, and sizes of the TCs are greater over the eastern TP than over the western TP. Meanwhile, the TCs over the southern and western TP have a larger vertical extent and flash density, respectively. The analysis of monthly and diurnal variations indicated the prominent preference of TC activity to occur in the warm season and afternoon, and multiple variations of TC properties.

本数据集为投稿至《Journal of Geophysical Research》（JGR）的论文《基于TRMM/RPF闪电观测的青藏高原雷暴云气候特征》配套的图件相关数据。本研究采用1998—2014年热带降雨测量任务（Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, TRMM）卫星观测反演得到的雷达降水特征（Radar Precipitation Feature, RPF）数据，对青藏高原（Tibetan Plateau, TP）上雷暴云（Thunderstorm Clouds, TCs）的活动特征与物理属性展开分析，并将其与两个对比陆地区域（CR1和CR2）的雷暴云进行对比。研究揭示了青藏高原雷暴云的多项关键属性，包括闪电频次、闪电密度、闪电特征（持续时长、放电长度与辐射亮度）、水平与垂直尺度，以及反射率垂直廓线，并将上述结果与CR1、CR2区域的雷暴云进行对比分析。本研究进一步对比了三个研究区域内雷暴云的有效电荷区（Effective Charge Regions, ECRs）分布特征，指出雷暴云闪电频次与有效电荷区数量、雷暴云闪电密度与有效电荷区面积占比之间存在潜在关联。本研究提出一张概念示意图，用以直观展现青藏高原雷暴云的独特性。研究结果显示，青藏高原中部区域的雷暴云活动最为活跃；整体而言，青藏高原东部雷暴云的闪电频次、闪电特征与空间尺度均大于西部区域。与此同时，青藏高原南部与西部的雷暴云分别具备更大的垂直尺度与更高的闪电密度。对雷暴云活动的月变化与日变化分析表明，其活动显著偏好暖季与午后时段，且雷暴云的各项物理属性存在多重变化特征。