Lu et al. (2025) Role of Soil Moisture Gradients in Favoring Mesoscale Convective Systems in East China

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Identification

• Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-02
• Authors: Yutong Lu, John H. Marsham, Douglas J. Parker, Cornelia Klein, Christopher M. Taylor, Juan Fang, Jianping Tang
• DOI: 10.1029/2025gl117137

Research Groups

Not specified in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study demonstrates that mature mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in East China preferentially propagate toward the drier side of strong soil moisture gradients.

Objective

• To investigate the specific role of soil moisture (SM) and its spatial gradients on the development and propagation of mature MCSs in East China.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: East China; soil moisture gradient scale $\sim 200\text{ km}$.
• Temporal Scale: 22 summers.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Convection-permitting simulations.
• Data sources: Model-generated simulation data.

Main Results

• Convective cores within mature MCSs preferentially develop on the drier side of strong SM gradients.
• There is a 2.5-fold increase in core occurrences downstream of the steepest 10% of SM gradients compared to near-uniform surfaces.
• SM gradients influence sensible heat flux gradients via evapotranspiration, which enhances near-surface temperature gradients.
• These temperature gradients strengthen moisture convergence and zonal wind shear, favoring MCS propagation.
• Upstream pre-storm rain-producing clouds contribute by suppressing surface available energy.

Contributions

• Identifies the critical role of SM heterogeneity (gradients) rather than absolute SM levels in favoring MCS propagation in East China.
• Highlights the necessity of improved land-surface representation in climate models to advance rainfall prediction and projection as climate change intensifies SM heterogeneity.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Lu2025Role,
  author = {Lu, Yutong and Marsham, John H. and Parker, Douglas J. and Klein, Cornelia and Taylor, Christopher M. and Fang, Juan and Tang, Jianping},
  title = {Role of Soil Moisture Gradients in Favoring Mesoscale Convective Systems in East China},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1029/2025gl117137},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl117137}
}