Articles | Volume 26, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-6763-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-6763-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 May 2026
Research article |
| 19 May 2026
| 19 May 2026
A process-oriented analysis of the summertime diurnal cycle of precipitation and diabatic heating over China in three reanalyses
Yanjie Liu
State Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Xiaocong Wang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
Yimin Liu
State Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Shuaiqi Tang
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
Nanjing Innovation Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences–Jiangsu Meteorological Service, Nanjing, 210041, China
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Severe Storm Disaster Risk/Key Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of CMA, Nanjing, 210041, China
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Short summary
This study investigates how well operational models simulate the diurnal cycle of summer rainfall over China. Comparing three reanalyses shows all capture nocturnal precipitation peak but differ in afternoon rainfall timing: JRA‑55 and MERRA‑2 match observations better, while ERA5 exhibits a 3-hour phase advance. These differences are linked to how large-scale forcing is use in convection parameterization, underscoring the critical role of trigger on cumulus convection.
This study investigates how well operational models simulate the diurnal cycle of summer...
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