Abstract:
The Mêdog section of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is a key area for South Asian water vapor to enter the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an annual precipitation exceeding 2000 mm, making it a "rain nest" in Tibet. Understanding its cloud and precipitation characteristics is of great significance for water vapor replenishment on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the efficient utilization of water resources. In 2019, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences established a comprehensive cloud and precipitation observation base at the Mêdog National Climate Observatory, obtaining cloud and precipitation observation data with high spatiotemporal resolution. Based on these observation data, preliminary studies have been conducted on the macro characteristics, diurnal variation, raindrop size distribution characteristics, and vertical structure of precipitation in the Mêdog area, and the research results have been applied to the early warning of geological disasters such as landslides and debris flows in the local area. Based on these studies, this paper summarizes the progress in cloud and precipitation characteristics in the Mêdog section of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and discusses future research directions.