Li et al. (2026) Investigating precipitation growth and decay due to orography using radar rainfall observations in Great Britain

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-29
• Authors: Chen Li, Miguel A. Rico‐Ramirez
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.70320

Research Groups

• University of Reading Department of Meteorology
• National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS)

Short Summary

This study investigates the effects of topography on precipitation growth and decay across Great Britain using a five-year weather radar dataset, providing insights into orographic effects and dynamic precipitation evolution.

Objective

• Investigate the impact of topography on precipitation growth and decay in Great Britain

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale (Great Britain)
• Temporal Scale: Five years (2007–2011)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Lagrangian framework with logarithmic approach to quantify precipitation growth and decay
• Data sources: Weather radar dataset from 2007 to 2011

Main Results

• Topography plays a significant role in precipitation growth and decay, with most growth occurring on windward slopes and decay in leeward areas.
• Precipitation growth is enhanced with increasing storm speeds and warmer conditions (above 15°C).
• Most precipitation in GB originates from the west and southwest.

Contributions

• Provides a framework for incorporating orographic effects and dynamic precipitation evolution into nowcasting models, enhancing their accuracy over lead time.

Funding

• This research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) grant number NE/J020105/1.

Citation

@article{Li2026Investigating,
  author = {Li, Chen and Rico‐Ramirez, Miguel A.},
  title = {Investigating precipitation growth and decay due to orography using radar rainfall observations in Great Britain},
  journal = {Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1002/qj.70320},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.70320}
}