Surface pressure features associated with a midlatitude mesoscale convective system in O.K. PRE-STORM
Date
1988-12
Authors
Stumpf, Gregory J., author
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
A midlatitude mesoscale convective system (MCS) passed through the domain of the Oklahoma-Kansas Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM-Central (OK PRESTORM) during the period 3-4 June 1985. Radar and satellite data are presented to provide an overview of the life cycle of the MCS. Observations from the OK PRE-STORM mesonetwork are used to document the surface pressure features associated with this MCS. Also, upper air sounding data, wind profiler data, and dual-Doppler data are presented to detail the upper level structure of this MCS. The MCS initially developed as a random pattern of convection. As the MCS matured, it developed a surface precipitation structure resembling an occluded wave cyclone but on a much smaller scale. The southern part of the system was comprised of a north-south intense convective line while the northern part contained significant stratiform rain. Finally, after a few hours of maturity, the MCS began to dissipate leaving behind a slowly decaying stratiform anvil. During the mature phase of the MCS, a broad surface mesohigh was observed over the northern stratiform rain area. At the rear edge of this rain area was an intense surface wake low. Local pressure gradients between the wake low and the mesohigh were as strong as 2 mb per 10 km. A strong wake low was not observed following the southern portion of the MCS . The upper level storm structure revealed a complex relative flow pattern. A stratiform anvil was observed north and northeast of the southern convective line. A small portion of the stratiform anvil trailed the northern rain area. The southern part of the MCS was devoid of a trailing stratiform rain region. The absence of a trailing stratiform rain region and surface wake low in the southern part of the MCS suggest that mesoscale circulations within and below the stratiform anvil in the northern segment were important in producing a surface wake low there.
Description
December 1988.
Also issued as author's thesis (M.S.) -- Colorado State University, 1988.
Also issued as author's thesis (M.S.) -- Colorado State University, 1988.
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Subject
Convection (Meteorology)
Atmospheric pressure