Publication

Abstract : The current work encompasses some case studies on the application of the technique of clustering to moisture transport, by estimating the backward trajectory of air parcels using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model which is available from the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Clustering of the obtained trajectories provides a more detailed description of the air parcel trajectories over the location. January is typically a dry month for Kerala. However, a record amount of rainfall was received in January 2021. This study analyses the moisture transport over Kerala during January 2020 and 2021. It is found that the majority of air parcels originated over the ocean during January 2021, in comparison with that during January 2020. This indicates the main factor behind the heavy rainfall was the wind direction at the lower altitude. Further analysis is necessary to detail the dynamics of the unusually heavy rainfall during January 2021, which will be performed in a future study.