A Comparison Of WSR-88D Reflectivities, SSM/I Brightness Temperatures, and Lightning for Mesoscale Convective Systems in Texas. Part I: Radar Reflectivity and Lightning

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 902-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Richard Toracinta ◽  
Karen I. Mohr ◽  
Edward J. Zipser ◽  
Richard E. Orville
Keyword(s):  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Radar Reflectivity of Lightning Flashes in Stratiform Regions of Mesoscale Convective Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (24) ◽  
pp. 14114-14132
Author(s):  
Fei Wang ◽  
Hengyi Liu ◽  
Wansheng Dong ◽  
Yijun Zhang ◽  
Wen Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

scholarly journals Observations of Coastally Transitioning West African Mesoscale Convective Systems during NAMMA

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Bradley W. Klotz ◽  
Paul Kucera
Keyword(s):  
West African ◽  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Environmental Stability ◽  
Tropical Cyclogenesis ◽  
Easterly Waves ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Maximum Reflectivity ◽  
Multidisciplinary Analysis ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Observations from the NASA 10 cm polarimetric Doppler weather radar (NPOL) were used to examine structure, development, and oceanic transition of West African Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) during the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (NAMMA) to determine possible indicators leading to downstream tropical cyclogenesis. Characteristics examined from the NPOL data include echo-top heights, maximum radar reflectivity, height of maximum radar reflectivity, and convective and stratiform coverage areas. Atmospheric radiosondes launched during NAMMA were used to investigate environmental stability characteristics that the MCSs encountered while over land and ocean, respectively. Strengths of African Easterly Waves (AEWs) were examined along with the MCSs in order to improve the analysis of MCS characteristics. Mean structural and environmental characteristics were calculated for systems that produced TCs and for those that did not in order to determine differences between the two types. Echo-top heights were similar between the two types, but maximum reflectivity and height and coverage of intense convection (>50 dBZ) are all larger than for the TC producing cases. Striking differences in environmental conditions related to future TC formation include stronger African Easterly Jet, increased moisture especially at middle and upper levels, and increased stability as the MCSs coastally transition.

scholarly journals Organization and Environmental Properties of Extreme-Rain-Producing Mesoscale Convective Systems

2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 961-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russ S. Schumacher ◽  
Richard H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Stratiform Rain ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Precipitation Total ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Extreme Rain ◽  
Reflectivity Data

This study examines the radar-indicated structures and other features of extreme rain events in the United States over a 3-yr period. A rainfall event is defined as “extreme” when the 24-h precipitation total at one or more stations surpasses the 50-yr recurrence interval amount for that location. This definition yields 116 such cases from 1999 to 2001 in the area east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding Florida. Two-kilometer national composite radar reflectivity data are then used to examine the structure and evolution of each extreme rain event. Sixty-five percent of the total number of events are associated with mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). While a wide variety of organizational structures (as indicated by radar reflectivity data) are seen among the MCS cases, two patterns of organization are observed most frequently. The first type has a line, often oriented east–west, with “training” convective elements. It also has a region of adjoining stratiform rain that is displaced to the north of the line. The second type has a back-building or quasi-stationary area of convection that produces a region of stratiform rain downstream. Surface observations and composite analysis of Rapid Update Cycle Version 2 (RUC-2) model data reveal that training line/adjoining stratiform (TL/AS) systems typically form in a very moist, unstable environment on the cool side of a preexisting slow-moving surface boundary. On the other hand, back-building/quasi-stationary (BB) MCSs are more dependent on mesoscale and storm-scale processes, particularly lifting provided by storm-generated cold pools, than on preexisting synoptic boundaries.

scholarly journals A Method for Identifying Midlatitude Mesoscale Convective Systems in Radar Mosaics. Part II: Tracking

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1599-1621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex M. Haberlie ◽  
Walker S. Ashley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Minimization Procedure ◽  
Optimal Approach

AbstractThis research is Part II of a two-part study that evaluates the ability of image-processing and select machine-learning algorithms to detect, classify, and track midlatitude mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in radar-reflectivity images for the conterminous United States. This paper focuses on the tracking portion of this framework. Tracking is completed through a two-step process using slice (snapshots of instantaneous MCS intensity) data generated in Part I. The first step is to perform spatiotemporal matching, which associates slices through temporally adjacent radar-reflectivity images to generate swaths, or storm tracks. When multiple slices are found to be matches, a difference-minimization procedure is used to associate the most similar slice with the existing swath. Once this step is completed, a second step combines swaths that are spatiotemporally close. Tracking performance is assessed by calculating select metrics for all available swath-building perturbations to determine the optimal approach in tracking. Frequency maps and time series generated from the swaths suggest that the spatiotemporal occurrence of these swaths is reasonable as determined from previous work. Further, these events exhibit a diurnal cycle that is distinct from that of overall convection for the conterminous United States. Last, machine-learning predictions are found to limit areas of high MCS frequency to the central and eastern Great Plains.

scholarly journals The Mesoscale Convective Systems with bow echo radar signatures as an example of extremely severe and widespread geohazard in Poland

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Widawski ◽  
Wojciech Pilorz
Keyword(s):  
Radar Reflectivity ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Material Damage ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Radar Images ◽  
Bow Echo ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Echo Radar

AbstractIn the last two decades we can notice a significant increase of severe anemological events, which are mostly connected with mesoscale convective systems and a cold front of a deep low-pressure system. One of them are very strong winds with speeds more than 25 m/s. They caused material damage and threatening people's lives. The most dangerous are winds generated by mesoscale convective systems where radar reflectivity signatures of bow echo/derecho appeared. In this paper the area of occurrence of such phenomenon in Poland are described and the features of bow echo signatures on radar images are presented and explained. Additionally one of the most severe event and still very weakly known episode of 11th August 2017 derecho in Poland is analysed. The damage data from European Severe Weather Database (ESWD) were analysed to confirm if the August 11th storm met derecho criteria. To identify the radar reflectivity signatures inside MCC the data from the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management shared on the radar-opadow.pl site were used. The CAPPI 1 km data were very useful to determine the convective forms. After that the data from synoptic station were examined for presenting the running of selected meteorological elements. Finally, some information about material damage in infrastructures and forests are mentioned.

A five-year climatological lightning characteristics of linear mesoscale convective systems over North China

2021 ◽  
Vol 256 ◽  
pp. 105580
Author(s):  
Dongxia Liu ◽  
Mengyu Sun ◽  
Debin Su ◽  
Wenjing Xu ◽  
Han Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North China ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

scholarly journals An Observational Study of Mesoscale Convective Systems with Heavy Rainfall over the Korean Peninsula

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyung Woo Kim ◽  
Dong Kyou Lee
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Korean Peninsula ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Mesoscale Convective Systems ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

Abstract A heavy rainfall event induced by mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurred over the middle Korean Peninsula from 25 to 27 July 1996. This heavy rainfall caused a large loss of life and property damage as a result of flash floods and landslides. An observational study was conducted using Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) data from 0930 UTC 26 July to 0303 UTC 27 July 1996. Dominant synoptic features in this case had many similarities to those in previous studies, such as the presence of a quasi-stationary frontal system, a weak upper-level trough, sufficient moisture transportation by a low-level jet from a tropical storm landfall, strong potential and convective instability, and strong vertical wind shear. The thermodynamic characteristics and wind shear presented favorable conditions for a heavy rainfall occurrence. The early convective cells in the MCSs initiated over the coastal area, facilitated by the mesoscale boundaries of the land–sea contrast, rain–no rain regions, saturated–unsaturated soils, and steep horizontal pressure and thermal gradients. Two MCSs passed through the heavy rainfall regions during the investigation period. The first MCS initiated at 1000 UTC 26 July and had the characteristics of a supercell storm with small amounts of precipitation, the appearance of a mesocyclone with tilting storm, a rear-inflow jet at the midlevel of the storm, and fast forward propagation. The second MCS initiated over the upstream area of the first MCS at 1800 UTC 26 July and had the characteristics of a multicell storm, such as a broken areal-type squall line, slow or quasi-stationary backward propagation, heavy rainfall in a concentrated area due to the merging of the convective storms, and a stagnated cluster system. These systems merged and stagnated because their movement was blocked by the Taebaek Mountain Range, and they continued to develop because of the vertical wind shear resulting from a low-level easterly inflow.

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