Diurnal cycle of precipitation determined from the CMORPH high spatial and temporal resolution global precipitation analyses

[1] The diurnal cycle of precipitation is examined both regionally and globally in this paper using high spatial and temporal resolution precipitation analyses that have been produced by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH). The 8-km spatial resolution ( at the equator) and 30-minute temporal resolution of these analyses permit an in-depth look at the diurnal cycle of precipitation over the globe. First, a macroscopic global view of the diurnal cycle of precipitation is presented. Power spectrum analysis reveals that the diurnal variations in global precipitation dominate the variability compared to all other timescales. Next, detailed regional examinations are made over the Americas that reveal intricate features of the diurnal cycle that have not been documented extensively to date. The results of this examination are contrasted with earlier studies that are based on IR data, and with studies that make use of spaceborne passive microwave data that are considerably less complete in space and time than are used in this study.