Assessing precipitation extremes (1981–2018) and deep convective activity (2002–2018) in the Amazon region with CHIRPS and AMSU data

The frequency and spatial distributions of precipitation extremes (PEs) deep convective clouds (DCC) across the Amazon region were assessed using satellite-derived data. For PEs, CHIRPS dataset for period 1981–2018 used to calculate a set absolute, threshold, duration, percentile-based threshold indices defined by Expert Team on Climate Change Detection Indices. DCC occurrence was based Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit data 2002–2018. In northern (north $$5^\circ \hbox {S}$$ ) PEs are more frequent ( $$\ge 60\%$$ frequency) during February–June. Averaged trends over these months have shown increase in daily rainfall above 20 mm near 3 days period, an 2 consecutive wet (P 1\,\hbox {mm}$$ same period. South prevalence is largely observed November–March frequency), whereas longest persistence dry June–August. Though all PE point intensification November–March, only winter (JJA) spring (SON) show significant trends, pointing 7 38-yr winters. Rainfall entire found be moderate strongly correlated with mean vertically integrated moisture divergence, southern also upper level divergence upward vertical velocity. Increased whole basin $$\sim 18\% \,\, {yr}^{-1}$$ ), contrast decreased overshooting (up 15.4\% ).