A multi-scale perspective of TRMM-LBA convection

This study presents an overview of Amazonian convection from the perspective of both ground and satellite instrumentation, with particular emphasis on radar observations of two MCSs (mesoscale convective systems) that occurred during the TRMM-LBA field campaign. The MCSs formed in different meteorological regimes, based on profiles of atmospheric wind and thermodynamic data. The radar analyses show that the MCSs were distinct in terms of kinematic and microphysical characteristics. These observations suggest that the easterly and westerly wind regimes in the southwest Amazon region produce convection with different vertical structure characteristics, similar to regimes elsewhere in the global tropics (e.g., maritime continent)