May 1966 and May 1997 linear mesoscale convective systems of the central plains: synoptic meteorology and a reflective-based taxonomy
| dc.contributor.author | Parker, Matthew David Brown, author | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-05-05T20:27:17Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-05-05T20:27:17Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1999 | |
| dc.description | Spring 1999. | |
| dc.description.abstract | A survey of linear mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurring in the central United States during the months of May 1996 and May 1997 is presented. MCSs are identified and analyzed using 2-km national composite radar reflectivity data. Based upon the radar-observed characteristics of the 88 documented linear MCSs, a new taxonomy is proposed comprising convective lines with trailing (TS), leading (LS), and parallel (PS) stratiform rain. While the TS archetype is found to be the dominant mode of linear MCS organization (confirming the study by Houze et al. 1990) , the LS and PS archetypes compose nearly 40% of the studied population. Synoptic meteorological features attending each class of linear MCS, as well as the population in general, are presented and analyzed. The proposed taxonomy is then evaluated using pre-storm rawinsonde and near-storm wind profiler observations, as well as National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalyses. Finally, case studies exemplifying the two less-studied linear MCS archetypes are presented. The MCSs in this study occurred mainly in a region of lower tropospheric warm advection in advance of an upper tropospheric short wave trough, much as found by Maddox (1983). The MCS population presented here exhibited a nocturnal maximum in occurrence, with a secondary maximum near sunrise such as that observed by Geerts (1998). All three MCS classes were observed to move roughly along the 1000-500 hPa thickness contours and the 700-300 hPa wind shear vector in the mean, in accordance with the results of Merritt and Fritsch (1984). TS MCSs in this study persisted for nearly twice as long as LS and PS MCSs, and moved the most rapidly of the three classes. The environments of TS cases, on average, were supportive of stronger surface cold pools than the environments of PS and LS cases. The stratiform rainfall distributions associated with each class were consistent with the advection of hydrometeors by the mean middle and upper tropospheric winds. The LS case study presented herein (from 18 May 1997) was able to survive surface inflow of rain-cooled air to its convective line by ingesting buoyant air from the rear, approximately 1 km above ground level. The PS case study presented herein (from 26 May 1996) occurred along a quasi-stationary outflow boundary in an environment with deep line-parallel winds. Future investigation of the less-studied linear MCS archetypes is commended by this study. Such work is needed to improve the ability of forecasters to recognize the likelihood of different convective modes. As well, better understanding of the linear MCS classes presented here would increase the capacity of numerical models to simulate their resultant effects on the atmosphere. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Sponsored by the National Science Foundation ATM-9313716 and ATM-9618684; and a graduate fellowship from AMS/ITT. | |
| dc.format.medium | reports | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10217/234924 | |
| dc.language | English | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Colorado State University. Libraries | |
| dc.relation | Catalog record number (MMS ID): 991005270509703361 | |
| dc.relation | QC852 .C6 no. 675 | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Atmospheric Science Papers (Blue Books) | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Atmospheric science paper, no. 675 | |
| dc.rights | Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright. | |
| dc.subject | Convection (Meteorology) | |
| dc.subject | Mesometeorology | |
| dc.subject | Convective clouds | |
| dc.subject | Synoptic meteorology | |
| dc.title | May 1966 and May 1997 linear mesoscale convective systems of the central plains: synoptic meteorology and a reflective-based taxonomy | |
| dc.type | Text | |
| dcterms.rights.dpla | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). |
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