Cold Pools Detected by a 356-m Meteorological Tower in a Monsoon Coastal Region (South China)

Cold pools (CPs) significantly influence coastal heavy rainfall, but their detailed observations are limited due to the lack of vertical measurement instruments. This study statistically characterizes CPs in the coastal monsoon region of South China using unique data from the 356-m-high Shenzhen Meteorological Tower. CP occurrence correlates with convective activities influenced by the summer monsoon in the seasonal variations and land-sea breeze activities in the diurnal cycle. The CPs predominantly dry the atmosphere, highlighting the dominant role of dry entrainment through convective downdrafts in their formation, with a minor role of hydrometeor evaporation. The average CP depth is estimated at 668.0 m, deeper than tropical CPs but shallower than mid-latitude counterparts. The CP properties exhibit diurnal variability, largely influenced by mesoscale convective systems (MCS) activities. MCS-induced cold pools are deeper and more intense than those from individual convective cells, while linear-MCS-produced cold pools are the most intense. These observations from the coastal monsoon region contribute to a comprehensive global understanding of cold pool characteristics, complementing existing studies from mid-latitude and tropical regions.