scholarly journals The Vertical Structure of Mesoscale Convective Vortices

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 686-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Davis ◽  
Thomas J. Galarneau
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Secondary Phase ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Outflow Boundary ◽  
Convective Vortices

Abstract Simulations of two cases of developing mesoscale convective vortices (MCVs) are examined to determine the dynamics governing the origin and vertical structure of these features. Although one case evolves in strong vertical wind shear and the other evolves in modest shear, the evolutions are remarkably similar. In addition to the well-known mesoscale convergence that spins up vorticity in the midtroposphere, the generation of vorticity in the lower troposphere occurs along the convergent outflow boundary of the parent mesoscale convective system (MCS). Lateral transport of this vorticity from the convective region back beneath the midtropospheric vorticity center is important for obtaining a deep column of cyclonic vorticity. However, this behavior would be only transient without a secondary phase of vorticity growth in the lower troposphere that results from a radical change in the divergence profile favoring lower-tropospheric convergence. Following the decay of the nocturnal MCS, subsequent convection occurs in a condition of greater relative humidity through the lower troposphere and small conditional instability. Vorticity and potential vorticity are efficiently produced near the top of the boundary layer and a cyclonic circulation appears at the surface.

scholarly journals Diagnosing Convective Dependencies on Near-Storm Environments Using Ensemble Sensitivity Analyses

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Kerr ◽  
David J. Stensrud ◽  
Xuguang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Wind Shear ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Storm Evolution

AbstractConvection intensity and longevity is highly dependent on the surrounding environment. Ensemble sensitivity analysis (ESA), which quantitatively and qualitatively interprets impacts of initial conditions on forecasts, is applied to very short-term (1–2 h) convective-scale forecasts for three cases during the Mesoscale Predictability Experiment (MPEX) in 2013. The ESA technique reveals several dependencies of individual convective storm evolution on their nearby environments. The three MPEX cases are simulated using a previously verified 36-member convection-allowing model (Δx = 3 km) ensemble created via the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Radar and other conventional observations are assimilated using an ensemble adjustment Kalman filter. The three cases include a mesoscale convective system (MCS) and both nontornadic and tornadic supercells. Of the many ESAs applied in this study, one of the most notable is the positive sensitivity of supercell updraft helicity to increases in both storm inflow region deep and shallow vertical wind shear. This result suggests that larger values of vertical wind shear within the storm inflow yield higher values of storm updraft helicity. Results further show that the supercell storms quickly enhance the environmental vertical wind shear within the storm inflow region. Application of ESA shows that these storm-induced perturbations then affect further storm evolution, suggesting the presence of storm–environment feedback cycles where perturbations affect future mesocyclone strength. Overall, ESA can provide insight into convection dependencies on the near-storm environment.

scholarly journals Warm-Core Formation in Tropical Storm Humberto (2001)

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 1177-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Dolling ◽  
Gary M. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Tropical Storm ◽  
Central Pressure ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Warm Core ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

At 0600 UTC 22 September 2001, Humberto was a tropical depression with a minimum central pressure of 1010 hPa. Twelve hours later, when the first global positioning system dropwindsondes (GPS sondes) were jettisoned, Humberto’s minimum central pressure was 1000 hPa and it had attained tropical storm strength. Thirty GPS sondes, radar from the WP-3D, and in situ aircraft measurements are utilized to observe thermodynamic structures in Humberto and their relationship to stratiform and convective elements during the early stage of the formation of an eye. The analysis of Tropical Storm Humberto offers a new view of the pre-wind-induced surface heat exchange (pre-WISHE) stage of tropical cyclone evolution. Humberto contained a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) similar to observations of other developing tropical systems. The MCV advects the exhaust from deep convection in the form of an anvil cyclonically over the low-level circulation center. On the trailing edge of the anvil an area of mesoscale descent induces dry adiabatic warming in the lower troposphere. The nascent warm core at low levels causes the initial drop in pressure at the surface and acts to cap the boundary layer (BL). As BL air flows into the nascent eye, the energy content increases until the energy is released from under the cap on the down shear side of the warm core in the form of vigorous cumulonimbi, which become the nascent eyewall. This series of events show one possible path in which a mesoscale convective system may evolve into a warm-cored structure and intensify into a hurricane.

Mesoscale Convective Vortices in Multiscale, Idealized Simulations: Dependence on Background State, Interdependency with Moist Baroclinic Cyclones, and Comparison with BAMEX Observations

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 1119-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Conzemius ◽  
Michael T. Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Pressure Amplitude ◽  
Moist Convection ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Common Center ◽  
Deep Moist Convection ◽  
Convective Vortices

Abstract A set of multiscale, nested, idealized numerical simulations of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and mesoscale convective vortices (MCVs) was conducted. The purpose of these simulations was to investigate the dependence of MCV development and evolution on background conditions and to explore the relationship between MCVs and larger, moist baroclinic cyclones. In all experiments, no mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed until a larger-scale, moist baroclinic system with surface pressure amplitude of at least 2 hPa was present. The convective system then enhanced the development of the moist baroclinic system by its diabatic production of eddy available potential energy (APE), which led to the enhanced baroclinic conversion of basic-state APE to eddy APE. The most rapid potential vorticity (PV) development occurred in and just behind the leading convective line. The entire system grew upscale with time as the newly created PV rotated cyclonically around a common center as the leading convective line continued to expand outward. Ten hours after the initiation of deep moist convection, the simulated MCV radii, heights of maximum winds, tangential velocity, and shear corresponded reasonably well to their counterparts in BAMEX. The increasing strength of the simulated MCVs with respect to larger values of background CAPE and shear supports the hypothesis that as long as convection is present, CAPE and shear both add to the strength of the MCV.

scholarly journals A Subtropical Oceanic Mesoscale Convective Vortex Observed during SoWMEX/TiMREX

2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (8) ◽  
pp. 2367-2385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiao-Wei Lai ◽  
Christopher A. Davis ◽  
Ben Jong-Dao Jou
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Southwest Monsoon ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Vortex Center ◽  
Moist Convection ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Deep Moist Convection ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Vortex

AbstractThis study examines a subtropical oceanic mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) that occurred from 1800 UTC 4 June to 1200 UTC 6 June 2008 during intensive observing period (IOP) 6 of the Southwest Monsoon Experiment (SoWMEX) and the Terrain-influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (TiMREX). A dissipating mesoscale convective system reorganized within a nearly barotropic vorticity strip, which formed as a southwesterly low-level jet developed to the south of subsiding easterly flow over the southern Taiwan Strait. A cyclonic circulation was revealed on the northern edge of the mesoscale rainband with a horizontal scale of 200 km. An inner subvortex, on a scale of 25–30 km with maximum shear vorticity of 3 × 10−3 s−1, was embedded in the stronger convection. The vortex-relative southerly flow helped create local potential instability favorable for downshear convection enhancement. Strong low-level convergence suggests that stretching occurred within the MCV. Higher θe air, associated with significant potential and conditional instability, and high reflectivity signatures near the vortex center suggest that deep moist convection was responsible for the vortex stretching. Dry rear inflow penetrated into the MCV and suppressed convection in the upshear direction. A mesolow was also roughly observed within the larger vortex. The presence of intense vertical wind shear in the higher troposphere limited the vortex vertical extent to about 6 km.

scholarly journals Discrimination of Mesoscale Convective System Environments Using Sounding Observations

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 1045-1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel E. Cohen ◽  
Michael C. Coniglio ◽  
Stephen F. Corfidi ◽  
Sarah J. Corfidi
Keyword(s):  
Deep Layer ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wind Events

Abstract The prediction of the strength of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is a major concern to operational meteorologists and the public. To address this forecast problem, this study examines meteorological variables derived from sounding observations taken in the environment of quasi-linear MCSs. A set of 186 soundings that sampled the beginning and mature stages of the MCSs are categorized by their production of severe surface winds into weak, severe, and derecho-producing MCSs. Differences in the variables among these three MCS categories are identified and discussed. Mean low- to upper-level wind speeds and deep-layer vertical wind shear, especially the component perpendicular to the convective line, are excellent discriminators among all three categories. Low-level inflow relative to the system is found to be an excellent discriminator, largely because of the strong relationship of system severity to system speed. Examination of the mean wind and shear vectors relative to MCS motion suggests that cell propagation along the direction of cell advection is a trait that separates severe, long-lived MCSs from the slower-moving, nonsevere variety and that this is favored when both the deep-layer shear vector and the mean deep-layer wind are large and nearly parallel. Midlevel environmental lapse rates are found to be very good discriminators among all three MCS categories, while vertical differences in equivalent potential temperature and CAPE only discriminate well between weak and severe/derecho MCS environments. Knowledge of these variables and their distribution among the different categories of MCS intensity can be used to improve forecasts and convective watches for organized convective wind events.

scholarly journals A mesoscale convective system trapped along the Spanish Mediterranean Coast

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 153-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Sánchez-Laulhé
Keyword(s):  
Convective Instability ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Precipitable Water ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Convective Storm ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Abstract. This paper describes the evolution of a mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed over the Alboran Sea on 7 February 2005, using surface, upper-air stations, radar and satellite observations, and also data from an operational numerical model. The system developed during the night as a small convective storm line in an environment with slight convective instability, low precipitable water and strong low-level vertical wind shear near coast. The linear MCS moved northwards reaching the Spanish coast. Then it remained trapped along the coast for more than twelve hours, following the coast more than five hundred kilometres. The MCS here described had a fundamental orographic character due to: (1) the generation of a low-level storm inflow parallel to the coast, formed by blocking of the onshore flow by coastal mountains and (2) the orientation of both the mesoscale ascent from the sea towards the coastal mountains and the midlevel rear inflow from the coastal mountains to the sea. The main motivation of this work was to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms relevant to the formation of heavy rainfall episodes occurring at Spanish Mediterranean coast associated with this kind of stationary or slowly moving MCSs.

scholarly journals The Impact of Low-Level Moisture Errors on Model Forecasts of an MCS Observed during PECAN

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (9) ◽  
pp. 3599-3624 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Peters ◽  
Erik R. Nielsen ◽  
Matthew D. Parker ◽  
Stacey M. Hitchcock ◽  
Russ S. Schumacher
Keyword(s):  
Convective Available Potential Energy ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Squall Line ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Eastern Flank ◽  
Western Flank ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Outflow Boundary ◽  
The Impact

This article investigates errors in forecasts of the environment near an elevated mesoscale convective system (MCS) in Iowa on 24–25 June 2015 during the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field campaign. The eastern flank of this MCS produced an outflow boundary (OFB) and moved southeastward along this OFB as a squall line. The western flank of the MCS remained quasi stationary approximately 100 km north of the system’s OFB and produced localized flooding. A total of 16 radiosondes were launched near the MCS’s eastern flank and 4 were launched near the MCS’s western flank. Convective available potential energy (CAPE) increased and convective inhibition (CIN) decreased substantially in observations during the 4 h prior to the arrival of the squall line. In contrast, the model analyses and forecasts substantially underpredicted CAPE and overpredicted CIN owing to their underrepresentation of moisture. Numerical simulations that placed the MCS at varying distances too far to the northeast were analyzed. MCS displacement error was strongly correlated with models’ underrepresentation of low-level moisture and their associated overrepresentation of the vertical distance between a parcel’s initial height and its level of free convection ([Formula: see text], which is correlated with CIN). The overpredicted [Formula: see text] in models resulted in air parcels requiring unrealistically far northeastward travel in a region of gradual meso- α-scale lift before these parcels initiated convection. These results suggest that erroneous MCS predictions by NWP models may sometimes result from poorly analyzed low-level moisture fields.

scholarly journals Land-Based Convection Effects on Formation of Tropical Cyclone Mekkhala (2008)

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 1315-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung-Sook Park ◽  
Myong-In Lee ◽  
Dongmin Kim ◽  
Michael M. Bell ◽  
Dong-Hyun Cha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Vortex Center ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Mesoscale System ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Westerly Flow ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Vortex

Abstract The effects of land-based convection on the formation of Tropical Storm Mekkhala (2008) off the west coast of the Philippines are investigated using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with 4-km horizontal grid spacing. Five simulations with Thompson microphysics are utilized to select the control-land experiment that reasonably replicates the observed sea level pressure evolution. To demonstrate the contribution of the land-based convection, sensitivity experiments are performed by changing the land of the northern Philippines to water, and all five of these no-land experiments fail to develop Mekkhala. The Mekkhala tropical depression develops when an intense, well-organized land-based mesoscale convective system moves offshore from Luzon and interacts with an oceanic mesoscale system embedded in a strong monsoon westerly flow. Because of this interaction, a midtropospheric mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) organizes offshore from Luzon, where monsoon convection continues to contribute to low-level vorticity enhancement below the midlevel vortex center. In the no-land experiments, widespread oceanic convection induces a weaker midlevel vortex farther south in a strong vertical wind shear zone and subsequently farther east in a weaker monsoon vortex region. Thus, the monsoon convection–induced low-level vorticity remained separate from the midtropospheric MCV, which finally resulted in a failure of the low-level spinup. This study suggests that land-based convection can play an advantageous role in TC formation by influencing the intensity and the placement of the incipient midtropospheric MCV to be more favorable for TC low-level circulation development.

scholarly journals Dominant processes of extreme rainfall-producing mesoscale convective system over southeastern Korea: 7 July 2009 case

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 6459-6489
Author(s):  
J.-H. Jeong ◽  
D.-I. Lee ◽  
C.-C. Wang ◽  
I.-S. Han
Keyword(s):  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Frontal Surface ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Outflow Boundary

Abstract. An extreme rainfall-producing mesoscale convective system (MCS) associated with the Changma front in southeastern Korea was investigated using observational data. This event recorded historic rainfall and led to devastating flash floods and landslides in the Busan metropolitan area on 7 July 2009. The aim of the present study is to analyze and better understand the synoptic and mesoscale environment, and the behavior of quasi-stationary MCS causing extreme rainfall. Synoptic and mesoscale analyses indicate that the MCS and heavy rainfall occurred association with a stationary front which resembled a warm front in structure. A strong southwesterly low-level jet (LLJ) transported warm and humid air and supplied the moisture toward the front, and the air rose upwards above the frontal surface. As the moist air was conditionally unstable, repeated upstream initiation of deep convection by back-building occurred at the coastline, while old cells moved downstream parallel to the convective line with training effect. Because the motion of convective cells nearly opposed the backward propagation, the system as a whole moved slowly. The back-building behavior was linked to the convectively produced cold pool and its outflow boundary, which played an essential role in the propagation and maintenance of the rainfall system. As a result, the quasi-stationary MCS caused a prolonged duration of heavy rainfall, leading to extreme rainfall over the Busan metropolitan area.

Mechanisms for Organization and Echo Training in a Flash-Flood-Producing Mesoscale Convective System

2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
pp. 1058-1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Peters ◽  
Russ S. Schumacher
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Gradient Force ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Pressure Gradient Force ◽  
Unstable Flow ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Upward Transport ◽  
Outflow Boundary

Abstract In this research, a numerical simulation of an observed training line/adjoining stratiform (TL/AS)-type mesoscale convective system (MCS) was used to investigate processes leading to upwind propagation of convection and quasi-stationary behavior. The studied event produced damaging flash flooding near Dubuque, Iowa, on the morning of 28 July 2011. The simulated convective system well emulated characteristics of the observed system and produced comparable rainfall totals. In the simulation, there were two cold pool–driven convective surges that exited the region where heavy rainfall was produced. Low-level unstable flow, which was initially convectively inhibited, overrode the surface cold pool subsequent to these convective surges, was gradually lifted to the point of saturation, and reignited deep convection. Mechanisms for upstream lifting included persistent large-scale warm air advection, displacement of parcels over the surface cold pool, and an upstream mesolow that formed between 0500 and 1000 UTC. Convection tended to propagate with the movement of the southeast portion of the outflow boundary, but did not propagate with the southwest outflow boundary. This was explained by the vertical wind shear profile over the depth of the cold pool being favorable (unfavorable) for initiation of new convection along the southeast (southwest) cold pool flank. A combination of a southward-oriented pressure gradient force in the cold pool and upward transport of opposing southerly flow away from the boundary layer moved the outflow boundary southward. Upward transport of southerly momentum by convection along the southward-moving outflow boundary, along with convectively induced southward pressure gradient forces cut off southerly inflow to the MCS, which temporarily disrupted backbuilding.

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