Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe
This study examines how the atmospheric circulation patterns in Africa south of the equator govern the spatial distribution of precipitation in Zimbabwe. The moisture circulation patterns are designated by an ample set of eight classified circulation types (CTs). Here it is shown that all wet CTs ov...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:69f8a0c0876b475ba84b8eb962515971 2023-06-11T04:16:40+02:00 Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi Itohan-Osa Abu 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2023001 https://doaj.org/article/69f8a0c0876b475ba84b8eb962515971 EN eng AIMS Press https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/geosci.2023001?viewType=HTML https://doaj.org/toc/2471-2132 doi:10.3934/geosci.2023001 2471-2132 https://doaj.org/article/69f8a0c0876b475ba84b8eb962515971 AIMS Geosciences, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2023) moisture circulation mid-latitude cyclone southwest indian ocean tropical cyclone south atlantic ocean anticyclone Geology QE1-996.5 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2023001 2023-05-28T00:36:55Z This study examines how the atmospheric circulation patterns in Africa south of the equator govern the spatial distribution of precipitation in Zimbabwe. The moisture circulation patterns are designated by an ample set of eight classified circulation types (CTs). Here it is shown that all wet CTs over Zimbabwe features enhanced cyclonic/convective activity in the southwest Indian Ocean. Therefore, enhanced moisture availability in the southwest Indian Ocean is necessary for rainfall formation in parts of Zimbabwe. The wettest CT in Zimbabwe is characterized by a ridging South Atlantic Ocean high-pressure, south of South Africa, driving an abundance of southeast moisture fluxes, from the southwest Indian Ocean into Zimbabwe. Due to the proximity of Zimbabwe to the Agulhas and Mozambique warm current, the activity of the ridging South Atlantic Ocean anticyclone is a dominant synoptic feature that favors above-average rainfall in Zimbabwe. Also, coupled with a weaker state of the Mascarene high, it is shown that a ridging South Atlantic Ocean high-pressure, south of South Africa, can be favorable for the southwest movement of tropical cyclones into the eastern coastal landmasses resulting in above-average rainfall in Zimbabwe. The driest CT is characterized by the northward track of the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude cyclones leading to enhanced westerly fluxes in the southwest Indian Ocean, limiting moist southeast winds into Zimbabwe. Article in Journal/Newspaper South Atlantic Ocean Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Indian AIMS Geosciences 9 1 1 15 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
moisture circulation mid-latitude cyclone southwest indian ocean tropical cyclone south atlantic ocean anticyclone Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
moisture circulation mid-latitude cyclone southwest indian ocean tropical cyclone south atlantic ocean anticyclone Geology QE1-996.5 Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi Itohan-Osa Abu Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe |
topic_facet |
moisture circulation mid-latitude cyclone southwest indian ocean tropical cyclone south atlantic ocean anticyclone Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
This study examines how the atmospheric circulation patterns in Africa south of the equator govern the spatial distribution of precipitation in Zimbabwe. The moisture circulation patterns are designated by an ample set of eight classified circulation types (CTs). Here it is shown that all wet CTs over Zimbabwe features enhanced cyclonic/convective activity in the southwest Indian Ocean. Therefore, enhanced moisture availability in the southwest Indian Ocean is necessary for rainfall formation in parts of Zimbabwe. The wettest CT in Zimbabwe is characterized by a ridging South Atlantic Ocean high-pressure, south of South Africa, driving an abundance of southeast moisture fluxes, from the southwest Indian Ocean into Zimbabwe. Due to the proximity of Zimbabwe to the Agulhas and Mozambique warm current, the activity of the ridging South Atlantic Ocean anticyclone is a dominant synoptic feature that favors above-average rainfall in Zimbabwe. Also, coupled with a weaker state of the Mascarene high, it is shown that a ridging South Atlantic Ocean high-pressure, south of South Africa, can be favorable for the southwest movement of tropical cyclones into the eastern coastal landmasses resulting in above-average rainfall in Zimbabwe. The driest CT is characterized by the northward track of the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude cyclones leading to enhanced westerly fluxes in the southwest Indian Ocean, limiting moist southeast winds into Zimbabwe. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi Itohan-Osa Abu |
author_facet |
Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi Itohan-Osa Abu |
author_sort |
Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi |
title |
Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe |
title_short |
Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe |
title_full |
Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe |
title_fullStr |
Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe |
title_full_unstemmed |
Relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in Zimbabwe |
title_sort |
relationship between synoptic circulations and the spatial distributions of rainfall in zimbabwe |
publisher |
AIMS Press |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2023001 https://doaj.org/article/69f8a0c0876b475ba84b8eb962515971 |
geographic |
Indian |
geographic_facet |
Indian |
genre |
South Atlantic Ocean |
genre_facet |
South Atlantic Ocean |
op_source |
AIMS Geosciences, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/geosci.2023001?viewType=HTML https://doaj.org/toc/2471-2132 doi:10.3934/geosci.2023001 2471-2132 https://doaj.org/article/69f8a0c0876b475ba84b8eb962515971 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2023001 |
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AIMS Geosciences |
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15 |
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