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Interactions between CAD and Cold Fronts Aloft. October 16, 2003 Michael J. Brennan. Potential impacts of cold fronts aloft on CAD. CAD DOES NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM Split front rainband moving across unsaturated cold dome could initiate or enhance hybrid in-situ CAD
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Interactions between CAD and Cold Fronts Aloft October 16, 2003 Michael J. Brennan
Potential impacts of cold fronts aloft on CAD CAD DOES NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM • Split front rainband moving across unsaturated cold dome could initiate or enhance hybrid in-situ CAD • Split front rainband moving across saturated cold dome could release sufficient latent heat causing CAD erosion via: • Hydrostatic pressure falls • Isallobaric wind effect • Inland movement of coastal front • Cold advection aloft weakening inversion
Case Study February 14, 2000 • Well-defined Split Front moved across the Mississippi Valley and Southeast U.S. • Diabatically Enhanced Classical CAD event eroding • Convection with split front moved across cold dome between 06Z and 12Z • Coastal front moved rapidly inland with temperature rise across Piedmont • RDU 6°C 06Z 12 °C 09Z
Numerical Sensitivity Test • Cold dome eroded as the split front rainband moved across the CAD region • Need to quantify the impact of latent heat release • Perform MM5 simulations with and without latent heat release • Will cold dome erode without LHR? • How large are differences?
MM5 Results at 12Z Full Dry P
What Have We Seen? • CAD cold dome decreased considerably between 06 and 12Z • Latent heat released over cold dome between 400 and 700 hPa • Moderate to heavy precipitation fell over the cold dome between 06 and 12Z
Conclusions • Observational data shows that cold dome eroded quickly between 06 and 12Z • MM5 simulations confirm that latent heat important in cold dome erosion as cold dome eroded more slowly in simulation without latent heat
For Further Reading • Brennan, M. J., G. L. Lackmann, and S. E. Koch, 2003: An analysis of the impact of a split-front rainband on Appalachian cold-air damming. Wea. Forecasting,18, 712-731. • BAMS Maproom Article: The Impact of a Split-Front Rainband on Appalachian Cold-Air Damming Erosion
Acknowledgements • Co-authors • Dr. Gary Lackmann and Dr. Steve Koch • NOAA CSTAR Grant • NWS CSTAR-I Offices • Raleigh • Wilmington • Morehead City • Greenville-Spartanburg • Wakefield