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Moisture Variability and Nocturnal Convection. David B. Parsons, Crystal Pettet, and Tammy Weckwerth NCAR/ATD. Acknowledgements to Ed Browell et al., Cyrille Flamant et al., and Steve Koch and the bore folks. Sounding-based Schematic of Nocturnal Convection Initiation.
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Moisture Variability and Nocturnal Convection David B. Parsons, Crystal Pettet, and Tammy Weckwerth NCAR/ATD Acknowledgements to Ed Browell et al., Cyrille Flamant et al., and Steve Koch and the bore folks
Sounding-based Schematic of Nocturnal Convection Initiation From Trier and Parsons 1993
Moisture Upstream of MCS Inflow 2nd LLJ Deeper Mixed Layer from near the dryline LLJ
Nocturnal MCS June 6th 2 ~Frontal Position 3 1 ~DC-8 Flight track 4
MCS Inflow Conv
A key factor in nocturnal convection is the depth of the moist inflow, which can be aloft Sounding Susceptible to PBL-Based Convection Sounding Susceptible to Elevated Convection DVN (0000 UTC 9/12/2000) GRB (0000 UTC 9/12/2000) From Trier et al. 2002, abstract 130, Reading QPF meeting
Research Goals • How common are bores and wave train events? • What are the characteristics of these events? • How are they generated and in what environments? • How strong is the lifting and does it modify the inflow thermodynamics?
Research Technique • Identify events in S-Pol and NEXRAD composites • Independently identify events in MAPR and ISS surface data • Identify event characteristics • Link to environmental characteristics
S-Pol and MAPRbore/wave events ~18 bore and 8 S-Pol and MAPR wave events were observed. Bore events are observed in the later stages of LLJ periods when precipitation occurs.
BORE Example From MAPR 4 June Post height Pre-bore height
Bore Height Displacements Layer Height (km) Time (mins)
Implications and Speculations • Undular bore-like disturbances are ubiquitous over • this region when convection and low-level jets • are present. Bore lifting varies. • These disturbances can promote intense lifting • with displacements of up to ~2 km. They • initiate convection and help maintain existing • systems by lifting their inflow (removing CIN) and • by creating a deeper moist inflow. • These disturbances surely contribute to the nocturnal • precipitation maximum over this region allowing • systems to cross over this unfavorable • environment into more moist air.