Dynamics of MCS mesohighs and wake lows
Date
1998
Authors
Haertel, Patrick T., author
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Abstract
MCS mesohighs and wake lows were simulated using a simple dynamical system in which the only forcing was the lower-tropospheric cooling associated with stratiform precipitation, and the response consisted entirely of buoyancy waves. The simulated mesohighs and wake lows resemble those observed in nature-their thermodynamic and kinematic structures, their positions relative to the forcing, and their life cycles are all realistic. When the forcing was steady and moved at a constant speed the mesohigh-wake- low response quickly approached a steady state. The steady-state response to the stratiform forcing is shown to be more intense than that associated with convective forcing, because the buoyancy-wave speed of the former is closer to the speed at which MCS's move. I conclude that MCS mesohighs and wake lows are a quasi-steady-state buoyancy-wave response to the lower-tropospheric cooling associated with stratiform precipitation.
Description
Spring 1998.
Also issued as author's dissertation (Ph.D.) -- Colorado State University, 1998.
Also issued as author's dissertation (Ph.D.) -- Colorado State University, 1998.
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Subject
Convection (Meteorology)
Mesometeorology
Precipitation (Meteorology)