The impact of convergence zones on the initiation of deep convection: A case study from COPS

Kalthoff, Norbert; Adler, Bianca; Barthlott, Christian; Corsmeier, U.; Mobbs, Stephen; Crewell, Susanne; Träumner, K.; Kottmeier, C.; Wieser, Andreas; Smith, V.; Girolamo, Paolo Di

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2009.02.010

Cited by 79 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…It was found that thermally driven circulation systems formed a convergence zone along the mountain crest of the Black Forest which was amplified by a mesoscale convergence zone, so that strong updraughts were observed above the mountains (Kalthoff et al, 2009. The values of CAPE and CIN were modulated by a moist tongue stretching southwards and reaching the northern part of the Black Forest.…”

Section: Air Mass Convection During Iop8bmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…On that day, the COPS area was located in the transition zone between an eastern European ridge, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to Poland and a high-amplitude eastern Atlantic trough. GFS analyses showed that only little advection of PV in the upper troposphere and warm air in the lower troposphere prevailed throughout the whole day (Kalthoff et al, 2009). As a consequence, the large-scale forcing was of minor importance.…”

Section: Air Mass Convection During Iop8bmentioning

confidence: 96%

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The Convective and Orographically‐induced Precipitation Study (COPS): the scientific strategy, the field phase, and research highlights

Wulfmeyer

Behrendt

Kottmeier

et al. 2011

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

196

136

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Within the framework of the international field campaign COPS (Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study), a large suite of state-of-the-art meteorological instrumentation was operated, partially combined for the first time. This includes networks of in situ and remote-sensing systems such as the Global Positioning System as well as a synergy of multi-wavelength passive and active remote-sensing instruments such as advanced radar and lidar systems. The COPS field phase was performed from 01 June to 31 August 2007 in a low-mountain area in southwestern Germany/eastern France covering the Vosges mountains, the Rhine valley and the Black Forest mountains. The collected data set covers the entire evolution of convective precipitation events in complex terrain from their initiation, to their development and mature phase until their decay. Eighteen Intensive Observation Periods with 37 operation days and eight additional Special Observation Periods were performed, providing a comprehensive data set covering different forcing conditions. In this article, an overview of the COPS scientific strategy, the field phase, and its first accomplishments is given. Highlights of the campaign are illustrated with several measurement examples. It is demonstrated that COPS research provides new insight into key processes leading to convection initiation and to the modification of precipitation by orography, in the improvement of quantitative precipitation forecasting by the assimilation of new observations, and in the performance of ensembles of convection-permitting models in complex terrain.

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Section: Air Mass Convection During Iop8bmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Air Mass Convection During Iop8bmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Convective and Orographically‐induced Precipitation Study (COPS): the scientific strategy, the field phase, and research highlights

Wulfmeyer

Behrendt

Kottmeier

et al. 2011

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

196

136

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The temporal evolution of convection and the identified trigger mechanism will be summarised in the following paragraphs. A detailed analysis is given by Kalthoff et al (2009).…”

Section: Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Kalthoff et al (2009), the formation of convective clouds in the northern Black Forest was due to an optimal superposition of two convergence zones: a mesoscale convergence zone between a surface high east of the Black Forest and a surface low approaching the investigation area from the west, and a convergence zone along the mountain crest due to slope and valley winds. When the mesoscale convergence zone reached the Black Forest crest, strong updraughts with subsequent cloud formation were observed at the time of superposition.…”

Section: Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Initiation of deep convection at marginal instability in an ensemble of mesoscale models: a case‐study from COPS

Barthlott

Burton

Kirshbaum

et al. 2011

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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The present study investigates the initiation of precipitating deep convection in an ensemble of convection-resolving mesoscale models. Results of eight different model runs from five non-hydrostatic models are compared for a case of the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS). An isolated convective cell initiated east of the Black Forest crest in southwest Germany, although convective available potential energy was only moderate and convective inhibition was high. Measurements revealed that, due to the absence of synoptic forcing, convection was initiated by local processes related to the orography. In particular, the lifting by low-level convergence in the planetary boundary layer is assumed to be the dominant process on that day. The models used different configurations as well as different initial and boundary conditions. By comparing the different model performance with each other and with measurements, the processes which need to be well represented to initiate convection at the right place and time are discussed. Besides an accurate specification of the thermodynamic and kinematic fields, the results highlight the role of boundary-layer convergence features for quantitative precipitation forecasts in mountainous terrain.

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“…Case-studies showed that a combination of diurnal heating and mesoscale convergence zones led to CI despite limited thermodynamic support (i.e. low CAPE and relatively high CIN; Kalthoff et al, 2009). Hagen et al (2011) compared two CI days during COPS and noted that the Rhine Valley is densely populated with strong industrial activity; therefore they suggested that the heat island effect could supply enough buoyancy to overcome the CIN and allow for thunderstorm development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radar climatology of the COPS region

Weckwerth

Wilson

Hagen

et al. 2011

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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The impact of convergence zones on the initiation of deep convection: A case study from COPS

Cited by 79 publications

References 32 publications

The Convective and Orographically‐induced Precipitation Study (COPS): the scientific strategy, the field phase, and research highlights

The Convective and Orographically‐induced Precipitation Study (COPS): the scientific strategy, the field phase, and research highlights

Initiation of deep convection at marginal instability in an ensemble of mesoscale models: a case‐study from COPS

Radar climatology of the COPS region

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