Climatology of extreme convective systems in china from joint TRMM and GPM observations

Climate warming leads to an increase in both the frequency and intensity of extreme convective events. The climatological characteristics and recent trends of extreme convective systems across China are still not fully understood. This study, for the first time, merges valuable spaceborne radar observational data from the TRMM and GPM satellites using statistical methods, creating a long-term satellite observational record (1998-2024) that enables a systematic climatological analysis of extreme deep and intense convective systems across China. The results reveal a monsoon-dominated spatial pattern, with density decreasing sharply from the humid South China to the arid northwest, primarily governed by moisture transport. Extreme convective systems occur mainly in the boreal summer, particularly in July and August (similar to 60% of the total), with a slightly higher proportion of intense convection in spring but a higher proportion of deep convection in summer. Compared to deep convective systems, intense convection exhibits a northward intensification trend and is more concentrated in North China. Convective systems in northern China are less frequent but larger and more intense than those in the south. Interannual trends show a decrease of extreme convective systems in South China while an increase in North China and the Tibetan Plateau. This north-south shift, especially notable during the GPM era, aligns with the significant increase in extreme weather events in recent years. With climate warming, increased moisture enhances severe convective potential in northern China but suppresses it in originally humid southern China. This contrast underscores the complex diversity of extreme convective systems across China.