Abstract:Based on the hourly atmospheric precipitable water vapor (PWV), the rainfall amount in the same period and Japan Meteorological Agency (JWA) reanalysis data from 57 ground-based GPS/MET monitoring net during 2009-2011 in Jiangsu province, the relation between the diurnal, hourly variation of PWV and the precipitation with different time scales and intensities was preliminarily discussed. Results showed that firstly, the diurnal variation of PWV had significant similar morphological characteristics and evolution trend with the daily variation of precipitation, both of which had a synchronous consistency and a unimodal distribution was obvious, the precipitation centralized period corresponded to the maximum period of PWV. Secondly, at the beginning and during the Meiyu period, an obvious mutation apeared in PWV and the forecasting index of heavy rainfall was developed, based on the GPS/PWV mutation events. Thirdly, in the processes of precipitation with different intensities, PWV value was limited in specific range. For the precipitation amount below 20 mm/h, their corresponding PWV were obviously different. With the precipitation intensity strengthening, the corresponding specific value of GPS/PWV increased. However, for the precipitation amount over 20 mm/h, their corresponding PWV were almost similar. Fourthly, in short-term rainfall forecasting, the rainfall intensity not only depended on abundant water vapor, but on the surrounding water vapor convergence ability of weather system and the dynamic condition of cloud and rainfall formation by uplifting the inflow of water vapor. Finally, precipitation had a continuous, gradual accumulation process of water vapor, which would at least last 12 hours.