Climatology of convective available potential energy (CAPE) in ERA-Interim reanalysis over West Africa

Abstract

Seasonal study of convective available potential energy (CAPE) is done using 6-h ERA-Interim data over West Africa during 35years (1979-2014). Climatology of CAPE presented in terms of seasonal means, variances and trends shows large values toward 12°-16°N with maxima during summer, according to higher relative humidity due to the arrival of monsoon in West Africa. Spectral analysis in the zone 10°-20°N/20°W-30°E, centered on the latitudes of maxima of CAPE trends at 12°-16°N toward inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) mean position in summer, shows significant power in the 3-5 day within the regions of tropical deep convection in connection with African easterly waves.