Interpretation of Doppler Weather Radar Displays of Midlatitude Mesoscale Convective Systems

Houze, Robert A.; Rutledge, S. A.; Biggerstaff, Michael I.; Smull, Bradley F.

doi:10.1175/1520-0477(1989)070<0608:iodwrd>2.0.co;2

Cited by 336 publications

(358 citation statements)

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“…4b). A comparison of the wind profile in our case to that of the ''strongly classifiable'' MCS defined by Houze et al (1990) reveals a similar low-level shear vector (7-8 m s Ϫ1 magnitude, oriented 30Њ-35Њ to the right of line orientation), but much weaker upper-tropospheric flow in our case. The MCS motion is somewhat subjective and represents the movement of the main convective line within the MCS, not individual convective cells that moved from the west-northwest.…”

Section: The Environmentsupporting

confidence: 50%

“…Similarities R The line-relative low-level shear vector is similar to that of the strongly classifiable systems examined by Houze et al (1990). R Severe weather was most prominent during the MCS development phase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Over continental areas with significant baroclinic activity, the diurnal cycle of smaller MCSs is weak and ill defined. In a radar-based study of springtime MCSs in Oklahoma, Houze et al (1990) report that the largest systems are longest lived and attain a peak size around midnight, whereas smaller systems (13-38 ϫ 10 3 km 2 ) have no clear diurnal preference. Smaller MCSs over tropical oceans may be more common at night (e.g., Churchill and Houze 1984), although the diurnal modulation is weak.…”

Section: Fig 1 Scatterplot Of MCC Duration Vs Maximum Area For 161mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of previous studies have detailed the kinematic structure and evolution of some rather large MCSs in the central Great Plains (Johnson and Hamilton 1988;Houze et al 1989;Brandes 1990;Biggerstaff and Houze 1991;Smull and Augustine 1993) and elsewhere (Chong et al 1987;Hauser et al 1988). The MCS structure at maturity has been the focus of these studies.…”

Section: Fig 1 Scatterplot Of MCC Duration Vs Maximum Area For 161mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18 reveal the formation of a squall-line structure (e.g., Houze et al 1990;Weisman et al 1988;Fovell and Ogura 1988) consisting of a convective line on the leading (south) edge and an expanding, trailing stratiform region. At 2057 UTC two separate convective regions are apparent, and the stratiform precipitation to the north is largely above the melting level.…”

Section: ) Evolving Patterns Of Z E and Cloud Topmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

1998

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The evolution of a small, vigorous mesoscale convective system (MCS) over northern Alabama is described using Doppler radar, GOES satellite, surface mesonet, lightning, and sounding data. The MCS formed near noon in a relatively unstable environment having weak synoptic forcing and weak shear. The initiation of separate lines and clusters of deep convection occurred in regions exhibiting cumulus cloud streets, horizontal variations in stratocumulus cloud cover, and variations in inferred soil moisture. MCS growth via merger of storms within clusters and lines, and among the clusters, was accomplished largely through intersection of storm-scale and mesoscale outflow boundaries. The MCS maximum anvil area (ϳ60 000 km 2 at 220 K) and lifetime (8 h) were about 50% that of the typical Great Plains mesoscale convective complex (MCC).Despite its smaller size, this MCS displayed many aspects that typify the mostly nocturnal Great Plains MCS. The precipitation output was highly variable due to the transient nature of the intense convective elements, many of which produced microbursts. The radar measurements documented the formation of a stratiform region along the trailing side of an intense convective line. This stratiform region formed as decaying convective cores coalesced, rather than through advection of precipitation particles directly from the convective region. Combined GOES IR imagery and radar reflectivity analyses within the stratiform region show a sinking anvil cloud top in the presence of increases in the vertical radar reflectivity gradient within the cloud during the maturation of the stratiform region.During its intense developing stages, the MCS generated a peak cloud-to-ground (CG) flash rate of 2400 h Ϫ1 , comparable to rates produced by larger MCCs. Early on, positive CG flashes were most prevalent around intense convective core regions exhibiting strong divergence at anvil level. During the latter stages, the emergence of positive CG was coincident with the formation of a prominent radar bright band within the stratiform region. Thus, a bipole was established, but its length was quite short at approximately 50 km, 25%-50% of the distance documented in other MCSs.

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Section: The Environmentsupporting

confidence: 50%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Fig 1 Scatterplot Of MCC Duration Vs Maximum Area For 161mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fig 1 Scatterplot Of MCC Duration Vs Maximum Area For 161mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ) Evolving Patterns Of Z E and Cloud Topmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

1998

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A synoptic climatology of derecho producing mesoscale convective systems in the North-Central Plains

Bentley¹,

Mote²,

Byrd³

2000

Int. J. Climatol.

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Synoptic-scale environments favourable for producing derechos, or widespread convectively induced windstorms, in the North-Central Plains are examined with the goal of providing pattern-recognition/diagnosis techniques. Fifteen derechos were identified across the North-Central Plains region during 1986 -1995. The synoptic environment at the initiation, mid-point and decay of each derecho was then evaluated using surface, upper-air and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)/National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis datasets.Results suggest that the synoptic environment is critical in maintaining derecho producing mesoscale convective systems (DMCSs). The synoptic environment in place downstream of the MCS initiation region determines the movement and potential strength of the system. Circulation around surface low pressure increased the instability gradient and maximized leading edge convergence in the initiation region of nearly all events regardless of DMCS location or movement. Other commonalities in the environments of these events include the presence of a weak thermal boundary, high convective instability and a layer of dry low-to-mid-tropospheric air. Of the two corridors sampled, northeastward moving derechos tend to initiate east of synoptic-scale troughs, while southeastward moving derechos form on the northeast periphery of a synoptic-scale ridge. Other differences between these two DMCS events are also discussed.

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Thunderstorms enhance tropospheric ozone by wrapping and shedding stratospheric air

Pan

Homeyer

Honomichl

et al. 2014

Geophysical Research Letters

106

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A significant source of ozone in the troposphere is transport from the stratosphere. The stratospheric contribution has been estimated mainly using global models that attribute the transport process largely to the global-scale Brewer-Dobson circulation and synoptic-scale dynamics associated with upper tropospheric jet streams. We report observations from research aircraft that reveal additional transport of ozone-rich stratospheric air downward into the upper troposphere by a leading-line-trailing-stratiform mesoscale convective system with convection overshooting the tropopause altitude. The fine-scale transport demonstrated by these observations poses a significant challenge to global models that currently do not resolve storm-scale dynamics. Thus, the upper tropospheric ozone budget simulated by global chemistry-climate models where large-scale dynamics and photochemical production from lightning-produced NO are the controlling factors may require modification.

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Interpretation of Doppler Weather Radar Displays of Midlatitude Mesoscale Convective Systems

Cited by 336 publications

References 0 publications

Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

A synoptic climatology of derecho producing mesoscale convective systems in the North-Central Plains

Thunderstorms enhance tropospheric ozone by wrapping and shedding stratospheric air

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