Integrated Analysis of Low-Level Turbulence around Airport Using Meteorological Model and LES

Abstract The genesis of a strong and long-lived tornado observed during the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) in Goshen County, Wyoming, on 5 June 2009 is studied. Mobile radar, mobile mesonet, rawinsonde, and photographic data are used to produce an integrated analysis of the evolution of the wind, precipitation, and thermodynamic fields in the parent supercell to deduce the processes that resulted in tornadogenesis. Several minutes prior to tornadogenesis, the rear-flank downdraft intensifies, and a secondary rear-flank downdraft forms and cyclonically wraps around the developing tornado. Kinematic and thermodynamic analyses suggest that horizontal vorticity created in the forward flank and hook echo is tilted and then stretched near the developing tornado. Tilting and stretching are enhanced in the developing low-level circulation as the secondary rear-flank downdraft develops, intensifies, and wraps around the circulation center. Shortly thereafter, the tornado forms. Tornadogenesis does not proceed steadily. Strengthening, weakening, and renewed intensification of the tornado are documented in photographic, reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and dual-Doppler fields and are associated with, and shortly follow, changes in the secondary rear-flank downdraft, convergence, location of the vortex relative to the updraft/downdraft couplet, tilting and stretching near and in the developing tornado, and the evolution of total circulation.

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Observations of Wall Cloud Formation in Supercell Thunderstorms during VORTEX2

Monthly Weather Review ◽

10.1175/mwr-d-14-00125.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 142 (12) ◽

pp. 4823-4838 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nolan T. Atkins ◽

Eva M. Glidden ◽

Timothy M. Nicholson

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Conceptual Models ◽

Flank Region ◽

The Other ◽

Cloud Formation ◽

Cloud Base ◽

Integrated Analysis ◽

Low Level ◽

Rotating Wall ◽

Supercell Thunderstorms

Abstract This study presents an integrated analysis of dual-Doppler, cloud photogrammetry, surface mobile mesonet, and sounding data to examine wall cloud formation in two supercells observed during the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment II (VORTEX2). One of the wall clouds contained significant rotation and spawned an (enhanced Fujita) EF2 tornado, while the other was clearly displaced horizontally from the mesocyclone and exhibited little rotation at the time of data collection. Backward parcel trajectories show that the majority of the air entering the wall cloud base originates in the forward-flank region. A small fraction of the parcels enter the wall cloud base from the inflow. Some rear-flank downdraft parcels descend into the strongly rotating wall cloud. For both wall clouds, much of the observed wall cloud lowering is attributed to evaporatively cooled parcels in the forward-flank region being ingested into the low-level updraft. Additional wall cloud-base lowering is observed near the circulation center of the strongly rotating wall cloud. This localized lowering is created by the pressure deficit and associated cooling. The observational results presented herein are compared to long-standing wall cloud formation conceptual models published in the refereed literature.

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An Investigation of Warm Rainfall Microphysics in the Southern Appalachians: Orographic Enhancement via Low-Level Seeder–Feeder Interactions

Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences ◽

10.1175/jas-d-13-0228.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 71 (5) ◽

pp. 1783-1805 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Anna M. Wilson ◽

Ana P. Barros

Keyword(s):

Vertical Structure ◽

Rainfall Intensity ◽

Warm Season ◽

High Elevation ◽

Rain Gauge ◽

Integrated Analysis ◽

Southern Appalachians ◽

Low Level ◽

Surface Rainfall ◽

Mist Formation

Abstract Observations of the vertical structure of rainfall, surface rain rates, and drop size distributions (DSDs) in the southern Appalachians were analyzed with a focus on the diurnal cycle of rainfall. In the inner mountain region, a 5-yr high-elevation rain gauge dataset shows that light rainfall, described here as rainfall intensity less than 3 mm h−1 over a time scale of 5 min, accounts for 30%–50% of annual accumulations. The data also reveal warm-season events characterized by heavy surface rainfall in valleys and along ridgelines inconsistent with radar observations of the vertical structure of precipitation. Next, a stochastic column model of advection–coalescence–breakup of warm rain DSDs was used to investigate three illustrative events. The integrated analysis of observations and model simulations suggests that seeder–feeder interactions (i.e., Bergeron processes) between incoming rainfall systems and local fog and/or low-level clouds with very high number concentrations of small drops (<0.2 mm) govern surface rainfall intensity through driving significant increases in coalescence rates and efficiency. Specifically, the model shows how accelerated growth of small- and moderate-size raindrops (<2 mm) via Bergeron processes can enhance surface rainfall rates by one order of magnitude for durations up to 1 h as in the observations. An examination of the fingerprints of seeder–feeder processes on DSD statistics conducted by tracking the temporal evolution of mass spectrum parameters points to the critical need for improved characterization of hydrometeor microstructure evolution, from mist formation to fog and from drizzle development to rainfall.

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Tryptophan-Niacin Metabolism in Rat with Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Nephrosis

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.76.1.28 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 28-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Yukari Egashira ◽

Shin Nagaki ◽

Hiroo Sanada

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Urinary Excretion ◽

Enzyme Activities ◽

Treated Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Puromycin Aminonucleoside ◽

Low Level ◽

Key Enzyme

We investigated the change of tryptophan-niacin metabolism in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside PAN-induced nephrosis, the mechanisms responsible for their change of urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites, and the role of the kidney in tryptophan-niacin conversion. PAN-treated rats were intraperitoneally injected once with a 1.0% (w/v) solution of PAN at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The collection of 24-hour urine was conducted 8 days after PAN injection. Daily urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites, liver and blood NAD, and key enzyme activities of tryptophan-niacin metabolism were determined. In PAN-treated rats, the sum of urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites was significantly lower compared with controls. The kidneyα-amino-β-carboxymuconate-ε-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD) activity in the PAN-treated group was significantly decreased by 50%, compared with the control group. Although kidney ACMSD activity was reduced, the conversion of tryptophan to niacin tended to be lower in the PAN-treated rats. A decrease in urinary excretion of niacin and the conversion of tryptophan to niacin in nephrotic rats may contribute to a low level of blood tryptophan. The role of kidney ACMSD activity may be minimal concerning tryptophan-niacin conversion under this experimental condition.

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