Climatology of convective available potential energy (CAPE) in ERA‐Interim reanalysis over West Africa. (26th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meukaleuni, Cyrille; Lenouo, André; Monkam, David
• Is Part Of: Atmospheric science letters. Volume 17:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2015-11-26
• Subjects: CAPE -- West Africa -- ITCZ -- ERA‐Interim -- trends; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; 551
• DOI: 10.1002/asl.601
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1530-261X

Abstract

Abstract: Seasonal study of convective available potential energy (CAPE) is done using 6‐h ERA‐Interim data over West Africa during 35 years (1979–2014). Climatology of CAPE presented in terms of seasonal means, variances and trends shows large values toward 12°–16°N with maxima during summer, according to higher relative humidity due to the arrival of monsoon in West Africa. Spectral analysis in the zone 10°–20°N/20°W–30°E, centered on the latitudes of maxima of CAPE trends at 12°–16°N toward inter‐tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) mean position in summer, shows significant power in the 3–5 day within the regions of tropical deep convection in connection with African easterly waves.