Synoptic climatology of the daily 700 - mb summer monsoon flow pattern over India

The daily (mean of 0000 and 1200 GMT) 700 mb contour patterns over India are classified in five broad types for each summer monsoon month by using a chart-to-chart correlation method. Certain characteristics of these patterns, such as mutual transitions, persistence, preferred periods of occurrence and interrelationships are studied. Statistical probabilities of two threshold 24 h rainfall amounts (2.5 and 10 mm) being equated or exceeded for each type are computed for 107 stations, more or less uniformly distributed over India. This knowledge of the spatial distribution of precipitation probabilities associated with various circulation types can be used in forecasting probabilities of precipitation over the country if the circulation patterns can he forecast by numerical methods. These probabilities are then compared to the climatological and conditional probabilities of obtaining threshold rainfall amounts on different days of the subsequent 5-day period—given that the threshold rainfall occurred on the current day. The results, if averaged for all types and months, show that persistence is superior to the synoptic climatology developed in this study for forecasting precipitation probability for the next day over an regions and for forecasting precipitation probability up to 2–4 days—depending on region and threshold rainfall criteria. Synoptic climatology is superior to persistence as an aid for forecasting precipitation probability after 4 days over all the regions. Some shortcomings of the present study and future plans are described briefly