Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2020-397
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2020-397
19 Feb 2021
 | 19 Feb 2021
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ESSD but the revision was not accepted.

ERA5-based database of Atmospheric Rivers over Himalayas

Munir Ahmad Nayak, M. Farooq Azam, and Rosa Vellosa Lyngwa

Abstract. Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) – long and narrow transient corridors of large horizontal moisture flux in the lower troposphere – are known to shape the hydrology of many regions around the globe. Heavy precipitation and flooding are often observed over many mountainous regions when the moisture-rich filaments impinge upon the elevated topographies. Although ARs and their impacts over many mountainous regions are well documented, their existence over the Himalayas and importance to the Himalayan hydrology have received negligible attention in the scientific literature. The Himalayas support more than a billion population in the Indian subcontinent, sustain the region's biodiversity, and play important roles in regulating the global climate.

In this study, we develop a comprehensive database of ARs over the Himalayas using the European Reanalysis fifth-generation (ERA5) fields of humidity and winds. The AR database consists of the dates and times of ARs from 1982 to 2018, their duration, major axes, and intensities and categories. We find that majority of intense ARs are associated with extreme precipitation widespread over the Ganga and Indus basins of the Himalayas, suggesting that ARs have profound impacts on the hydrology of the region. The AR database developed here is envisioned to help in exploring the impacts of ARs on the hydrology and ecology of the Himalayas. For this, we provide a few brief future perspectives on AR-Himalayas relationships.

The data developed in this study has been uploaded to the Zenodo repository at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4451901 (Nayak et al., 2021). The data is also included in the Supplemental Information for easier access.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Munir Ahmad Nayak, M. Farooq Azam, and Rosa Vellosa Lyngwa

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on essd-2020-397', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Mar 2021
    • AC5: 'Reply on RC1', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 30 May 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on essd-2020-397', Anonymous Referee #2, 23 Apr 2021
    • RC3: 'Reply on RC2', Anonymous Referee #2, 29 Apr 2021
      • AC4: 'Reply on RC3', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 28 May 2021
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 28 May 2021
  • RC4: 'Comment on essd-2020-397', Anonymous Referee #3, 04 May 2021
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC4', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 27 May 2021
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC4', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 28 May 2021

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on essd-2020-397', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Mar 2021
    • AC5: 'Reply on RC1', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 30 May 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on essd-2020-397', Anonymous Referee #2, 23 Apr 2021
    • RC3: 'Reply on RC2', Anonymous Referee #2, 29 Apr 2021
      • AC4: 'Reply on RC3', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 28 May 2021
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 28 May 2021
  • RC4: 'Comment on essd-2020-397', Anonymous Referee #3, 04 May 2021
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC4', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 27 May 2021
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC4', Munir Ahmad Nayak, 28 May 2021
Munir Ahmad Nayak, M. Farooq Azam, and Rosa Vellosa Lyngwa

Data sets

Atmospheric River Database for the Himalayas Nayak, M. A., Azam, M. F, and Vellosa, R. L. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4451901

Munir Ahmad Nayak, M. Farooq Azam, and Rosa Vellosa Lyngwa

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Latest update: 05 Dec 2024
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Short summary
Atmospheric Rivers–– long and narrow plumes of intense horizontal water vapor transport in the lower part of the atmosphere––have been recognized among the key agents delivering extreme rainfall/snowfall over many mountainous regions around the globe. The Himalayas is an important exception where research on impacts of ARs is lacking. We develop a comprehensive ERA5-based database of ARs penetrating the foothills of the Himalayas, with a vision to flourish future research in this area.
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