When, Where and to What Extent Do Temperature Perturbations Near Tropical Deep Convection Follow Convective Quasi Equilibrium?

Convective Quasi‐Equilibrium (CQE) is often adopted as a useful closure assumption to summarize the effects of unresolved convection on large‐scale thermodynamics, while existing efforts to observationally validate CQE largely rely on specific spatial domains or sites rather than the source of CQE constraints—deep convection. This study employs a Lagrangian framework to investigate leading temperature perturbation patterns near deep convection, of which the centers are located by use of an ensemble of satellite measurements. Temperature perturbations near deep convection with high peak precipitation are rapidly adjusted toward the CQE structure within the [−2, 1] hours centered on peak precipitation. The top 1% precipitating deep convection constrains neighboring free‐tropospheric leading perturbations up to 9°. Notable CQE validity beyond a 1° radius is observed when peak precipitation exceeds the 93rd percentile. These findings suggest that only a small fraction of deep convection with extreme precipitation shapes tropical free‐tropospheric temperature patterns dominantly. Plain Language Summary: Convective Quasi‐Equilibrium (CQE) is a concept in atmospheric science that explains a state where the influence of deep convection (cumulonimbus clouds) and large‐scale atmospheric forces is balanced, causing certain thermodynamic properties to adjust toward specific reference profiles. Previous studies have focused on how temperature changes relate to the CQE structure but in specific regions or sites while this study aims areas near deep convection—supposedly the source of CQE constraints. Using a unique framework with data from multiple satellites, we track the evolution of temperature patterns near deep convection and find temperatures near deep convection with extreme rainfall are adjusted toward the CQE structure rapidly within 3 hr of maximum rainfall. However, only the deep convection with top 7% extreme rainfall can effectively affect nearby temperature pattern beyond 1°, with the top 1% influencing up to an 9° radius. These findings highlight the dominant impact of a small fraction of deep convection, particularly those with extreme rainfall, on nearby temperature perturbation patterns. Key Points: Tropical temperature perturbations near extreme deep convection rapidly conform to convective quasi equilibrium in a three‐hour windowOnly the top 7% precipitating deep convection can modulate hourly tropical temperature patterns beyond a 1° radiusTop 1% precipitating deep convection constrains nearby temperature perturbations up to an 9° radius during peak precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]