A complexity view of rainfall

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Jan 7;88(1):018701. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.018701. Epub 2001 Dec 19.

Abstract

We show that rain events are analogous to a variety of nonequilibrium relaxation processes in Nature such as earthquakes and avalanches. Analysis of high-resolution rain data reveals that power laws describe the number of rain events versus size and number of droughts versus duration. In addition, the accumulated water column displays scale-less fluctuations. These statistical properties are the fingerprints of a self-organized critical process and may serve as a benchmark for models of precipitation and atmospheric processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Climate
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Rain*