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Winter storms in the central Himalayas

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lang, TJ; Barros, AP
Published in: Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan
June 1, 2004

Based on observations from a hydrometeorological network on the eastern slopes of the Annapurna Range, nearly all the annual precipitation at low elevations (< 2000 in MSL) in Nepal is in liquid form, even during the winter. However, high elevations (> 3000 in MSL) can receive up to 40% of their annual precipitation as snowfall during the winter, with the highest altitude stations (∼4000 m MSL and above) having the most total winter precipitation (which can exceed 100 cm). Significant snowstorms are associated with terrain-locked low-pressure systems that form when an upper-level disturbance passes over the notch formed by the Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountains (the so-called Western Disturbances), causing upper-level SW flow over central Nepal and orographically forced precipitation. Based on these results, a 30-year (1973-2002) climatology of these notch depressions is developed and reveals that significant interannual variability in central Himalayan winter storms exists. Weak but statistically significant correlation between notch depressions and the Polar/Eurasia teleconnection pattern was found, suggesting that the strength of the circumpolar vortex may affect the number of depressions passing through the Himalayan region. A typical snow event (11 February 2000) was the subject of an observational and modeling case study. Local precipitation (snow and rain) and other meteorological observations, as well as satellite (Meteosat-5 and TRMM) and NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data were used, along with a cloud-resolving model with realistic topography. This study shows that significant winter-time precipitation only occurs in the central Himalayas when the large-scale flow evolves to a favorable geometry with respect to the mountains. © 2004, Meteorological Society of Japan.

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Published In

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

DOI

ISSN

0026-1165

Publication Date

June 1, 2004

Volume

82

Issue

3

Start / End Page

829 / 844

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 3702 Climate change science
  • 3701 Atmospheric sciences
  • 0401 Atmospheric Sciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Lang, T. J., & Barros, A. P. (2004). Winter storms in the central Himalayas. Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, 82(3), 829–844. https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2004.829
Lang, T. J., and A. P. Barros. “Winter storms in the central Himalayas.” Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan 82, no. 3 (June 1, 2004): 829–44. https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2004.829.
Lang TJ, Barros AP. Winter storms in the central Himalayas. Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. 2004 Jun 1;82(3):829–44.
Lang, T. J., and A. P. Barros. “Winter storms in the central Himalayas.” Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, vol. 82, no. 3, June 2004, pp. 829–44. Scopus, doi:10.2151/jmsj.2004.829.
Lang TJ, Barros AP. Winter storms in the central Himalayas. Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. 2004 Jun 1;82(3):829–844.

Published In

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

DOI

ISSN

0026-1165

Publication Date

June 1, 2004

Volume

82

Issue

3

Start / End Page

829 / 844

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 3702 Climate change science
  • 3701 Atmospheric sciences
  • 0401 Atmospheric Sciences