Extreme precipitation events in the Brahmaputra River basin during the Indian summer monsoon and its association with atmospheric moisture transport

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to climate change, rising temperatures cause the atmosphere to hold more moisture, likely increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events. These events, lasting several days, are the leading causes of floods. Recently, floods from multi-day precipitation extremes (MPEs) have risen significantly. The Brahmaputra River basin (BRB) in India is particularly vulnerable to flooding during the Indian summer monsoon due to its transboundary nature. It is crucial to characterize and rank MPEs to understand their risk, impact, and underlying drivers. This study ranked MPEs of different durations based on intensity and spatial extent during the Indian summer monsoon over the BRB using a high-resolution daily precipitation dataset from 1951 to 2022. In addition, it evaluates the association between atmospheric moisture transport and MPEs by quantifying integrated water vapor transport (IVT) during top-ranked MPEs. The analysis indicates intense IVT in the mid-tropospheric layer (850–500 hPa) over the MPE regions during top-ranked events and identifies significant low-pressure anomalies and shifts from ridge to trough patterns. Quantifying the connection between MPEs and IVT can aid in early prediction and risk reduction.