Multispectral, High-Resolution Satellite Observations of Plumes on Top of Convective Storms

Levizzani, Vincenzo; Setvák, Martin

doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1996)053<0361:mhrsoo>2.0.co;2

Cited by 70 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Particles in that layer were identified by the slight enhancement observed in the MAS depolarization (green line) and in concomitant enhancement of the CVI condensed water probe (not shown). Such moisturizing anvil top plumes originating from the cirrus decks above thunderstorms have been first described from satellite observations by Levizzani et al (1996). Wang (2003) interpreted these as injections of small particles in the upper levels induced by the breaking of gravity waves; the small particles then moisturize the layer upon evaporation.…”

Section: Below 385 K: Dehydration Effectsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Morphology of the tropopause layer and lower stratosphere above a tropical cyclone: a case study on cyclone Davina (1999)

et al. 2008

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Abstract. During the APE-THESEO mission in the Indian Ocean the Myasishchev Design Bureau stratospheric research aircraft M55 Geophysica performed a flight over and within the inner core region of tropical cyclone Davina. Measurements of total water, water vapour, temperature, aerosol backscattering, ozone and tracers were made and are discussed here in comparison with the averages of those quantities acquired during the campaign time frame.Temperature anomalies in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL), warmer than average in the lower part and colder than average in the upper TTL were observed. Ozone was strongly reduced compared to its average value, and thick cirrus decks were present up to the cold point, sometimes topped by a layer of very dry air. Evidence for meridional transport of trace gases in the stratosphere above the cyclone was observed and perturbed water distribution in the TTL was documented. The paper discuss possible processes of dehydration induced by the cirrus forming above the cyclone, and change in the chemical tracer and water distribution in the lower stratosphere 400-430 K due to meridional transport from the mid-latitudes and link with Davina. Moreover it compares the data prior and after the cyclone passage to discuss its actual impact on the atmospheric chemistry and thermodynamics.

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Section: Below 385 K: Dehydration Effectsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Morphology of the tropopause layer and lower stratosphere above a tropical cyclone: a case study on cyclone Davina (1999)

et al. 2008

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“…Past studies on this topic have shown two possible approaches using satellite observations to demonstrate such transport mechanism. The first approach described by Setvák and Doswell (1991) and Levizzani and Setvák (1996) is based on the observations of plume-like features on the tops of some of the convective storms. The second approach utilizes the brightness temperature difference between water vapor absorption and infrared window bands (e.g., Fritz and Laszlo 1993;Setvák et al 2008).…”

Section: Satellite Observations Of the Cross-tropopause Convective Trmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sometimes, they can also be seen in thermal infrared images, depending on their height and the temperature profile of the lower stratosphere. The fact that satellite images show that the plumes usually have high 3.7 -3.9 m reflectivity implies that the ice particles in the plume must be quite small, possibly of the order of several μm (Levizzani and Setvák 1996).…”

Section: Satellite Observations Of the Cross-tropopause Convective Trmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some are very wide and extend downwind to a length longer than the storm anvil while others may be very short and narrow. Levizzani and Setvák (1996) investigated more examples of anvil top plumes and estimated that most of them are 1 -3 km above the anvil. If the anvil top is already at the tropopause, then these plumes must be in the lower stratosphere.…”

Section: Satellite Observations Of the Cross-tropopause Convective Trmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cross Tropopause Transport of Water by Mid-Latitude Deep Convective Storms: A Review

Wang¹,

Su²,

Charvát³

et al. 2011

Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci.

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Recent observational and numerical modeling studies of the mechanisms which transport moisture to the stratosphere by deep convective storms at mid-latitudes are reviewed. Observational evidence of the cross-tropopause transport of moisture by thunderstorms includes satellite, aircraft and ground-based data. The primary satellite evidence is taken from both conventional satellite of thunderstorm images and CloudSat vertical cloud cross-section images. The conventional satellite images show cirrus plumes above the anvil tops of some of the convective storms where the anvils are already at the tropopause level. The CloudSat image shows an indication of penetration of cirrus plume into the stratosphere. The aircraft observations consist of earlier observations of the "jumping cirrus" phenomenon reported by Fujita and recent detection of ice particles in the stratospheric air associated with deep convective storms. The ground-based observations are video camera records of the jumping cirrus phenomenon occurring at the top of thunderstorm cells. Numerical model studies of the penetrative deep convective storms were performed utilizing a three-dimensional cloud dynamical model to simulate a typical severe storm which occurred in the US Midwest region on 2 August 1981. Model results indicate two physical mechanisms that cause water to be injected into the stratosphere from the storm: (1) the jumping cirrus mechanism which is caused by the gravity wave breaking at the cloud top, and (2) an instability caused by turbulent mixing in the outer shell of the overshooting dome. Implications of the penetrative convection on global processes and a brief future outlook are discussed.

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“…This plume can have high reflectance in the NIR channels because it contains small ice particles (Levizzani and Setvák, 1996). In fact, Adler et al (1983) found that most storms with this V-shape were related to severe weather (tornadoes, hail, and intense rain).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daytime identification of summer hailstorm cells from MSG data

Merino¹,

López²,

Sánchez³

et al. 2014

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract.Identifying deep convection is of paramount importance, as it may be associated with extreme weather phenomena that have significant impact on the environment, property and populations. A new method, the hail detection tool (HDT), is described for identifying hail-bearing storms using multispectral Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) data. HDT was conceived as a two-phase method, in which the first step is the convective mask (CM) algorithm devised for detection of deep convection, and the second a hail mask algorithm (HM) for the identification of hail-bearing clouds among cumulonimbus systems detected by CM. Both CM and HM are based on logistic regression models trained with multispectral MSG data sets comprised of summer convective events in the middle Ebro Valley (Spain) between 2006 and 2010, and detected by the RGB (red-green-blue) visualization technique (CM) or C-band weather radar system of the University of León. By means of the logistic regression approach, the probability of identifying a cumulonimbus event with CM or a hail event with HM are computed by exploiting a proper selection of MSG wavelengths or their combination. A number of cloud physical properties (liquid water path, optical thickness and effective cloud drop radius) were used to physically interpret results of statistical models from a meteorological perspective, using a method based on these "ingredients". Finally, the HDT was applied to a new validation sample consisting of events during summer 2011. The overall probability of detection was 76.9 % and the false alarm ratio 16.7 %.

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Multispectral, High-Resolution Satellite Observations of Plumes on Top of Convective Storms

Cited by 70 publications

References 15 publications

Morphology of the tropopause layer and lower stratosphere above a tropical cyclone: a case study on cyclone Davina (1999)

Morphology of the tropopause layer and lower stratosphere above a tropical cyclone: a case study on cyclone Davina (1999)

Cross Tropopause Transport of Water by Mid-Latitude Deep Convective Storms: A Review

Daytime identification of summer hailstorm cells from MSG data

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