The Effect of Large-Scale Flow on Low-Level Frontal Structure and Evolution in Midlatitude Cyclones

1998 ◽  
Vol 126 (7) ◽  
pp. 1767-1791 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Schultz ◽  
Daniel Keyser ◽  
Lance F. Bosart
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Frontal Structure ◽  
Large Scale Flow ◽  
Midlatitude Cyclones

THE COUPLING BET WEEN CONVECTIVE VARIABILITY AND LARGE-SCALE FLOW PATTERNS OBSERVED DURING PISTON 2018-2019

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-57
Author(s):  
Kyle Chudler ◽  
Steven A. Rutledge
Keyword(s):  
Relative Frequency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Easterly Waves ◽  
Colorado State University ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Large Scale Flow

AbstractThe Propagation of Intraseasonal Oscillations (PISTON) field campaign took place in the waters of the western tropical North Pacific during the late-summer and early-fall of 2018 and 2019. During both research cruises, the Colorado State University SEA-POL polarimetric C-Band weather radar obtained continuous 3D measurements of oceanic precipitation systems. This study provides an overview of the variability in convection observed during the PISTON cruises, and relates this variability to large-scale atmospheric conditions. Using an objective classification algorithm, precipitation features are identified and labeled by their size (isolated/sub-MCS/MCS) and degree of convective organization (nonlinear/linear). It is shown that although large mesoscale convective systems (MCS’s) occurred infrequently (present in 13% of radar scans), they contributed a disproportionately large portion (56%) of the total rain volume. Conversely, small isolated features were present in 91% of scans, yet these features contributed just 11% of the total rain volume, with the bulk of the rainfall owing to warm rain production. Convective rain rates and 30-dBZ echo top heights increased with feature size and degree of organization. MCS’s occurred more frequently in periods of low-level southwesterly winds, and when low-level wind shear was enhanced. By compositing radar and sounding data by phases of easterly waves (of which there were several in 2018), troughs are shown to be associated with increased precipitation and a higher relative frequency of MCS feature occurrence, while ridges are shown to be associated with decreased precipitation and a higher relative frequency of isolated convective features.

scholarly journals The Impact of Mountain Waves on an Idealized Baroclinically Unstable Large-Scale Flow

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 3285-3302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximo Q. Menchaca ◽  
Dale R. Durran
Keyword(s):  
Wave Breaking ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Unstable Wave ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Mountain Waves ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Flow Deceleration ◽  
Large Scale Flow

Abstract The feedback of mountain waves and low-level blocking on an idealized baroclinically unstable wave passing over an isolated ridge is examined through numerical simulation. Theoretical analysis implies that the volume-integrated perturbation momentum budget is dominated by mean-flow deceleration, the divergence of vertical fluxes of horizontal momentum, and the Coriolis force acting on the perturbation ageostrophic wind. These do indeed appear as the dominant balances in numerically computed budgets averaged over layers containing 1) wave breaking in the lower stratosphere, 2) flow blocking with wave breaking near the surface, and 3) a region of pronounced horizontally averaged mean-flow deceleration in the upper troposphere where there is no wave breaking. The local impact of wave breaking on the jet in the lower stratosphere is dramatic, with winds in the jet core reduced by almost 50% relative to the no-mountain case. Although it is the layer with the strongest average deceleration, the local patches of decelerated flow are weakest in the upper troposphere. The cross-mountain pressure drag over a 2-km-high ridge greatly exceeds the vertical momentum flux at mountain-top level because of low-level wave breaking, blocking, and lateral flow diversion. These pressure drags and the low-level momentum fluxes are significantly different from corresponding values computed for simulations with steady forcing matching the instantaneous conditions over the mountain in the evolving large-scale flow.

Large-scale flow field visualization for aneurysm treatment

2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
Damon Liu ◽  
Mark Burgin ◽  
Walter Karplus ◽  
Daniel Valentino
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Aneurysm Treatment ◽  
Large Scale Flow

Effects of Squish Flow on Tangential Flow and Turbulence in a Diesel Engine

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanzhe Sun ◽  
Kai Sun ◽  
Tianyou Wang ◽  
Yufeng Li ◽  
Zhen Lu
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Engine ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Radial Flow ◽  
Tangential Component ◽  
Tangential Flow ◽  
Image Velocimetry ◽  
Turbulence Production ◽  
Large Scale Flow ◽  
Main Effects

Emission and fuel consumption in swirl-supported diesel engines strongly depend on the in-cylinder turbulent flows. But the physical effects of squish flow on the tangential flow and turbulence production are still far from well understood. To identify the effects of squish flow, Particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments are performed in a motored optical diesel engine equipped with different bowls. By comparing and associating the large-scale flow and turbulent kinetic energy (k), the main effects of the squish flow are clarified. The effect of squish flow on the turbulence production in the r−θ plane lies in the axial-asymmetry of the annular distribution of radial flow and the deviation between the ensemble-averaged swirl field and rigid body swirl field. Larger squish flow could promote the swirl center to move to the cylinder axis and reduce the deformation of swirl center, which could decrease the axial-asymmetry of annular distribution of radial flow, further, that results in a lower turbulence production of the shear stress. Moreover, larger squish flow increases the radial fluctuation velocity which makes a similar contribution to k with the tangential component. The understanding of the squish flow and its correlations with tangential flow and turbulence obtained in this study is beneficial to design and optimize the in-cylinder turbulent flow.

scholarly journals A CloudSat–CALIPSO View of Cloud and Precipitation Properties across Cold Fronts over the Global Oceans

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (17) ◽  
pp. 6743-6762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Naud ◽  
Derek J. Posselt ◽  
Susan C. van den Heever
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cold Front ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Scale Parameters ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Cold Fronts ◽  
Surface Front ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The distribution of cloud and precipitation properties across oceanic extratropical cyclone cold fronts is examined using four years of combined CloudSat radar and CALIPSO lidar retrievals. The global annual mean cloud and precipitation distributions show that low-level clouds are ubiquitous in the postfrontal zone while higher-level cloud frequency and precipitation peak in the warm sector along the surface front. Increases in temperature and moisture within the cold front region are associated with larger high-level but lower mid-/low-level cloud frequencies and precipitation decreases in the cold sector. This behavior seems to be related to a shift from stratiform to convective clouds and precipitation. Stronger ascent in the warm conveyor belt tends to enhance cloudiness and precipitation across the cold front. A strong temperature contrast between the warm and cold sectors also encourages greater post-cold-frontal cloud occurrence. While the seasonal contrasts in environmental temperature, moisture, and ascent strength are enough to explain most of the variations in cloud and precipitation across cold fronts in both hemispheres, they do not fully explain the differences between Northern and Southern Hemisphere cold fronts. These differences are better explained when the impact of the contrast in temperature across the cold front is also considered. In addition, these large-scale parameters do not explain the relatively large frequency in springtime postfrontal precipitation.

Dynamic and Thermodynamic Relations of Distinctive Stratus Clouds on the Lee Side of the Tibetan Plateau in the Cold Season

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 8378-8391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Rucong Yu ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
Weihua Yuan ◽  
Minghua Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Moist Air ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Stratus Clouds

Abstract Given the large discrepancies that exist in climate models for shortwave cloud forcing over eastern China (EC), the dynamic (vertical motion and horizontal circulation) and thermodynamic (stability) relations of stratus clouds and the associated cloud radiative forcing in the cold season are examined. Unlike the stratus clouds over the southeastern Pacific Ocean (as a representative of marine boundary stratus), where thermodynamic forcing plays a primary role, the stratus clouds over EC are affected by both dynamic and thermodynamic factors. The Tibetan Plateau (TP)-forced low-level large-scale lifting and high stability over EC favor the accumulation of abundant saturated moist air, which contributes to the formation of stratus clouds. The TP slows down the westerly overflow through a frictional effect, resulting in midlevel divergence, and forces the low-level surrounding flows, resulting in convergence. Both midlevel divergence and low-level convergence sustain a rising motion and vertical water vapor transport over EC. The surface cold air is advected from the Siberian high by the surrounding northerly flow, causing low-level cooling. The cooling effect is enhanced by the blocking of the YunGui Plateau. The southwesterly wind carrying warm, moist air from the east Bay of Bengal is uplifted by the HengDuan Mountains via topographical forcing; the midtropospheric westerly flow further advects the warm air downstream of the TP, moistening and warming the middle troposphere on the lee side of the TP. The low-level cooling and midlevel warming together increase the stability. The favorable dynamic and thermodynamic large-scale environment allows for the formation of stratus clouds over EC during the cold season.

The Role of Equatorial Rossby Waves in Tropical Cyclogenesis. Part I: Idealized Numerical Simulations in an Initially Quiescent Background Environment

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 1368-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Gall ◽  
William M. Frank ◽  
Matthew C. Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Phase Speed ◽  
Tropical Cyclogenesis ◽  
Initial Amplitude ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Wave Simulation ◽  
Horizontal Momentum ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract This two-part series of papers examines the role of equatorial Rossby (ER) waves in tropical cyclone (TC) genesis. To do this, a unique initialization procedure is utilized to insert n = 1 ER waves into a numerical model that is able to faithfully produce TCs. In this first paper, experiments are carried out under the idealized condition of an initially quiescent background environment. Experiments are performed with varying initial wave amplitudes and with and without diabatic effects. This is done to both investigate how the properties of the simulated ER waves compare to the properties of observed ER waves and explore the role of the initial perturbation strength of the ER wave on genesis. In the dry, frictionless ER wave simulation the phase speed is slightly slower than the phase speed predicted from linear theory. Large-scale ascent develops in the region of low-level poleward flow, which is in good agreement with the theoretical structure of an n = 1 ER wave. The structures and phase speeds of the simulated full-physics ER waves are in good agreement with recent observational studies of ER waves that utilize wavenumber–frequency filtering techniques. Convection occurs primarily in the eastern half of the cyclonic gyre, as do the most favorable conditions for TC genesis. This region features sufficient midlevel moisture, anomalously strong low-level cyclonic vorticity, enhanced convection, and minimal vertical shear. Tropical cyclogenesis occurs only in the largest initial-amplitude ER wave simulation. The formation of the initial tropical disturbance that ultimately develops into a tropical cyclone is shown to be sensitive to the nonlinear horizontal momentum advection terms. When the largest initial-amplitude simulation is rerun with the nonlinear horizontal momentum advection terms turned off, tropical cyclogenesis does not occur, but the convectively coupled ER wave retains the properties of the ER wave observed in the smaller initial-amplitude simulations. It is shown that this isolated wave-only genesis process only occurs for strong ER waves in which the nonlinear advection is large. Part II will look at the more realistic case of ER wave–related genesis in which a sufficiently intense ER wave interacts with favorable large-scale flow features.

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