Abstract:
To further improve the indicators for artificial precipitation enhancement operations in Sichuan Province and quantify the correlation between cloud macrophysical characteristics and precipitation, this study established precipitation cloud identification indices based on cloud top temperature (CTT) and cloud top height (CTH), using high spatiotemporal resolution cloud macrophysical product data from the Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) geostationary satellite and hourly surface precipitation data from 2019 to 2021. This study analyzed the cloud macrophysical parameters and their correlation with precipitation in Sichuan Province. The research results show that: (1) In the northwest of the basin, other areas of the basin, the Western Sichuan Plateau and the Panxi region, cloud fraction rate (CFR), CTT and CTH exhibit significant discrepancies across different seasons and precipitation intensities. (2) CFR reaches its maximum in summer and minimum in winter, showing a gradually increasing trend from west to east. CTH decreases gradually from the northwest of the Western Sichuan Plateau to the southeast of the basin, while CTT increases progressively. (3) Surface precipitation tends to occur when CTT drops below −10 ℃. In the Western Sichuan Plateau, precipitation is triggered when CTH exceeds 9000 m. In the northwest of the basin (e.g., Chengdu, Mianyang, and Deyang), precipitation is triggered when CTH exceeds 7500 m. However, no obvious threshold values are found in other regions. (4) Under different precipitation intensities, CTT increases from northwest to southeast with intensified precipitation, while CTH shows the opposite spatial trend. (5) In other areas of the basin (excluding Chengdu, Deyang and Mianyang) and the Panxi region, both CTT and CTH show relatively concentrated distributions. Their distribution ranges are particularly narrow in winter, enhancing the reliability of precipitation cloud identification. However, CTH values exhibit greater fluctuations in summer, increasing the uncertainty of precipitation cloud identification.