Clustering the Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation Using Global Satellite Data

First published: 2024

Brief summary

Uses 20 years of hourly global satellite precipitation data (IMERG) with hierarchical clustering to map worldwide patterns in the ~24-hour diurnal precipitation cycle.

Article

Clustering the Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation Using Global Satellite Data is a peer-reviewed journal article published by Geophysical Research Letters (AGU) in 2024. It uses 20 years of hourly global satellite precipitation data (IMERG) with hierarchical clustering to map worldwide patterns in the ~24-hour diurnal precipitation cycle.

Period ~24 hours (diurnal). The data source is IMERG satellite precipitation dataset 2001-2020, hourly resolution. It also considers global maps/clustering as visual output. This gives the cycle claim a specific numerical and evidential setting rather than presenting periodicity only as a visual impression.

The article reports the following result: This study uses IMERG as the primary data source, combined with hierarchical clustering, to analyse the diurnal cycle of precipitation amount, frequency, and intensity globally. The interpretation is strongest when it survives proxy uncertainty, model choice, dating error and comparison with established solar, orbital and ocean-atmosphere forcing.

For cycles researchers, the article brings together diurnal precipitation cycle, satellite rainfall, imerg data, hierarchical clustering. It is relevant to climate-cycle research because observed periodicities may arise from orbital forcing, solar variability, ocean-atmosphere dynamics or internal stochastic behaviour.

Because it is a peer-reviewed journal article, the article is a strong starting point for discussion in the Climate & Weather forum, although its conclusions should still be compared with later replications and updated datasets.

Source details and credits

• Source / publisher: Geophysical Research Letters (AGU)
• Source type: Peer-reviewed journal article
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Geophysical Research Letters (AGU)
• URL: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2024GL111513