Impact of soil moisture and convectively generated waves on the initiation of a West African mesoscale convective system

Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society

Volumn 139, Issue 676, 2013, Pages 1712-1730

  Birch, C E ^a   Parker, D J ^a   O'Leary, A ^a   Marsham, J H ^a   Taylor, C M ^b   Harris, P P ^b   Lister, G M S ^c  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS   (United Kingdom)

^b CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY   (United Kingdom)

^c UNIVERSITY OF READING   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

AMMA; Gravity wave; Mesoscale convective system (MCS); Secondary initiation; Soil moisture

Indexed keywords

AMMA; ATMOSPHERIC ANALYSIS; ATMOSPHERIC GRAVITY WAVES; COMPARISON OF MODELS; MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM; MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS; SECONDARY INITIATION; SYNOPTIC CIRCULATIONS;

ATMOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMICS; COMPUTER SIMULATION; GRAVITY WAVES; STORMS;

SOIL MOISTURE;

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION; ATMOSPHERIC CONVECTION; CONVECTIVE SYSTEM; GRAVITY WAVE; MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY; SOIL MOISTURE; TRIGGER MECHANISM;

MALI;

EID: 84886234537     PISSN: 00359009     EISSN: 1477870X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/qj.2062     Document Type: Article

References (77)

1. Adler B, Kalthoff N, Gantner L. 2011. The impact of soil moisture inhomogeneities on the modification of a mesoscale convective system: An idealised model study. Atmos. Res. 101: 354-372.
2. Agustí-Panareda A, Balsamo G, Beljaars A. 2010a. Impact of improved soil moisture on the ECMWF precipitation forecast in West Africa. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37: L20808, DOI:10.1029/2010GL044748.
3. Agustí-Panareda A, Beljaars A, Ahlgrimm M, Balsamo G, O B, Forbes R, Ghelli A, Guichard F, Köhler Meynadier R, Morcrette JJ. 2010b. The ECMWF re-analysis for the AMMA observational campaign. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 1457-1472.
4. Agustí-Panareda A, Beljaars A, Cardinali C, Genkova I. 2010c. Impacts of assimilating AMMA soundings on ECMWF analyses and forecasts. Wea. Forecast. 25: 1142-1160.
5. Anabor V, Stensrud DJ, de Moraes OLL. 2009. Simulation of a serial upstream-propagating mesoscale convective system event over southeastern South America using composite initial conditions. Mon. Weath. Rev. 137: 2144-2163.
6. Bergés JC, Jobard L, Chopin F, Roca R. 2010. EPSAT-SG: a satellite method for precipitation estimation; its concepts and implementation for the AMMA experiment. Ann. Geophys. 28: 289-308.
7. Beres JH, Alexander MJ, Holton JR. 2002. Effects of tropospheric wind shear on the spectrum of convectively generated gravity waves. J. Atmos. Sci. 59: 1805-1824.
8. Best MJ, Pryor M, Clark DB, Rooney GG, Essery RLH, Ménard CB, Edwards JM, Hendry MA, Porson A, Gedney N, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Blyth E, Boucher O, Cox PM, Grimmomd CSB, Harding RJ. 2011. The Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES), model description-Part 1: Energy and water fluxes. Geosci. Model Dev. 4: 677-699.
9. Boone A, de Rosnay P, Balsamo G, Beljaars A, Chopin F, Decharme B, Delire C, Ducharne A, Gascoin S, Grippa M, Guichard F, Gusev Y, Harris P, Jarlan L, Kergoat L, Mougin E, Nasonova O, Norgaard A, Orgeval T, Ottlé C, Poccard-Leclercq Polcher J, Sandholt I, Saux-Picart S, Taylor C, Xue Y. 2009. The AMMA land surface model intercomparison project (ALMIP). Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 90: 1865-1880.
10. Bretherton CS, Smolarkiewicz PK. 1989. Gravity waves, compensating subsidence and detrainment around cumulus clouds. J. Atmos. Sci. 46: 740-759.
11. Carleton AM, Adegoke J, Allard J, Arnold DL, Travis DJ. 2001. Summer season land cover-convective cloud associations for the Midwest US 'Corn Belt'. Geophys. Res. Lett. 28: 1679-1682.
12. Charba J. 1974. Application of gravity current model analysis of squall-line gust front. Mon. Weath. Rev. 102: 140-156.
13. Crook NA, Miller MJ. 1985. A numerical and analytical study of atmospheric undular bores. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 111: 225-242.
14. Davies T, Cullen MJP, Malcolm AJ, Mawson MH, Staniforth A, White AA, Wood S. 2005. A new dynamical core for the Met Office's global and regional modelling of the atmosphere. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 131: 1759-1782.
15. Droegemeier KK, Wilhelmson RB. 1985a. Three-dimensional numerical modeling of convection produced by interacting thunderstorm outflows. Part I: Control simulation an d low-level moisture variations. J. Atmos. Sci. 42: 2381-2403.
16. Droegemeier KK, Wilhelmson RB. 1985b. Three-dimensional numerical modeling of convection produced by interacting thunderstorm outflows. Part II: Variations in vertical winds shear. J. Atmos. Sci. 42: 2404-2414.
17. Emanuel KA. 1994. Atmospheric Convection. Oxford University Press.
18. Emori S. 1998. The interaction of cumulus convection with soil moisture distribution: An idealized simulation. J. Geophys. Res. 103: 8873-8884.
19. Essery RLH, Best MJ, Cox PM. 2001. MOSES 2.2 Technical Documentation. Technical Report, Met Office: Exeter; 14 August.
20. Gaertner MA, Domíguez M, Garvert M. 2010. A modelling case-study of soil moisture-atmosphere coupling. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 483-495.
21. Gantner L, Kalthoff N. 2010. Sensitivity of a modelled life cycle of a mesoscale convective system to soil conditions over West Africa. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 471-482.
22. Garcia-Carreras L, Parker DJ, Marsham JH. 2011. What is the mechanism for the modification of convective cloud distributions by land surface-induced flows? J. Atmos. Sci. 68: 619-634.
23. Goff RC. 1976. Vertical structure of thunderstorm outflows. Mon. Weath. Rev. 104: 1429-1440.
24. Goler RA, Reeder MJ. 2004. The generation of the Morning Glory. J. Atmos. Sci. 61: 1360-1376.
25. Gregory D, Rowntree PR. 1990. A mass flux convection scheme with representation of cloud ensemble characteristics and stability-dependent closure. Mon. Weath. Rev. 118: 1483-1506.
26. Guichard F, Asencio N, Peugeot C, Bock O, Redelsperger J-L, Cui X, Garvert M, Lamptey B, Orlandi E, Sander J, Fierli F, Gaertner MA, Jones SC, Lafore J-P, Morse A, Nuret M, Boone A, Balsamo G, de Rosnay P, Decharme B, Harris PP, Bergès J-C. 2010. An intercomparison of simulated rainfall and evapotranspiration associated with a mesoscale convective system over West Africa. J. Hydrometeorol. 25: 37-60.
27. Hourdin F, Musat I, Guichard F, Ruti PM, Favot F, Filiberti M-A, Pham M, Grandpeix J-Y, Polcher J, Marquet P, Boone A, Lafore J-P, Redelsperger J-L, Dell'aquila A, Doval TL, Traore AK, Gallèe H. 2010. AMMA-model intercomparison project. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 91: 95-104.
28. Huffman GJ, Adler RF, Bolvin DT, Gu G, Nelkin EJ, Bowman KP, Hong Y, Stocker EF, Wolff DB. 2007. The TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis: Quasi-global, multi-year, combined-sensor precipitation estimates at fine scale. J. Hydrometeorol. 8: 38-55.
29. Janicot S, Thorncroft CD, Ali A, Asencio N, Berry G, Bock O, Bourles B, Caniaux G, Chauvin F, Deme A, Kergoat L, Lafore JP, Lavaysse C, Lebel T, Marticorena B, Mounier F, Nedelec P, Redelsperger JL, Ravegnani F, Reeves CE, Roca R, de Rosnay P, Schlager H, Sultan B, Tomasini M, Ulanovsky A, forecasters team A. 2008. Large-scale overview of the summer monsoon over West Africa during the AMMA field experiment in 2006. Ann. Geophys. 26: 2569-2595.
30. Klüpfel V, Kalthoff N, Gantner L, Kottmeier C. 2011a. Evaluation of soil moisture ensemble runs to estimate precipitation variability in convection permitting model simulations for West Africa. Atmos. Res. 101: 178-193.
31. Klüpfel V, Kalthoff N, Gantner L, Taylor C. 2011b. Convergence zones and their impact on the initiation of a mesoscale convective system in West Africa. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 138: 950-963.
32. Knupp KR. 2006. Observational analysis of a gust front to bore to solitary wave transition within an evolving nocturnal boundary layer. J. Atmos. Sci. 63: 2016-2035.
33. Koch SE, Feltz W, Fabry F, Pagowski M, Geerts B, Bedka KM, Miller DO, Wilson JW. 2008. Turbulent mixing processes in atmospheric bores and solitary waves deduced from profiling systems and numerical simulation. Mon. Weath. Rev. 136: 1373-1400.
34. Kohler M, Kalthoff N, Kottmeier C. 2010. The impact of soil moisture modifications on CBL characteristics in West Africa: A case-study from the AMMA campaign. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 442-455.
35. Koster RD, Dirmeter PA, Guo Z, Bonan G, Chan E, Cox P, Gordon CT, Kanae S, Kowalczyk E, Lawrence D, Liu P, Lu CH, Malyshev S, McAvaney B, Mitchell K, Mocko D, Oki T, Oleson K, Pitman A, Sud YC, Taylor CM, Verseghy D, Vasic R, Xue Y, Yamada T. 2004. Regions of strong coupling between soil moisture and precipitation. Science 305: 1138-1140.
36. Lac C, Lafore JP, Redelsperger JL. 2002. Role of gravity waves in triggering deep convection during TOGA COARE. J. Atmos. Sci. 59: 1293-1316.
37. Lane TP, Reeder MJ. 2001. Convectively generated gravity waves and their effect on the cloud environment. J. Atmos. Sci. 58: 2427-2440.
38. Lane TP, Zhang F. 2011. Coupling between gravity waves and tropical convection at mesoscale. J. Atmos. Sci. 68: 2582-2598.
39. Laurent H, D'Amato N, Lebel T. 1998. How important is the contribution of the mesoscale convective complexes to the Sahelian rainfall? Phys. Chem. Earth 23: 629-633.
40. Lin YL, Deal RL, Kulie MS. 1998. Mechanisms of cell regeneration, development, and propagation within a two-dimensional multicell storm. J. Atmos. Sci. 55: 1867-1886.
41. Liu C, Moncrieff MW. 2004. Effects of convectively generated gravity waves and rotation on the organization of convection. J. Atmos. Sci. 61: 2218-2227.
42. Lock AP, Brown AR, Bush MR, Martin GM, Smith RNB. 2000. A new boundary layer mixing scheme. Part I: scheme description and single-column model tests. Mon. Weath. Rev. 128: 3187-3199.
43. Lothon M, Campistron B, Chong M, Couvreux F, Guichard F, Rio C, Williams E. 2011. Life cycle of a mesoscale circular gust front observed by a C-band Doppler radar in West Africa. Mon. Weath. Rev. 139: 1370-1388.
44. Mapes BE. 1993. Gregarious tropical convection. J. Atmos. Sci. 50: 2026-2037.
45. Marsham JH, Parker DJ. 2006. Secondary initiation of multiple bands of cumulonimbus over southern Britain. II: Dynamics of secondary initiation. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 132: 1053-1072.
46. Mathon V, Laurent H, Lebel T. 2002. Mesoscale convective system rainfall in the Sahel. J. Appl. Meteorol. 41: 1081-1092.
47. Meynadier R, Bock O, Gervois S, Guichard F, Redelsperger JL, Agustí-Panareda A, Beljaars A. 2010. West African Monsoon water cycle: 2. Assessment of numerical weather prediction water budgets. J. Geophys. Res. 115: D19 105. DOI:10.1029/2010JD013 919.
48. Morcrette C, Browning K, Blyth AM, Bozier KE, Clark PA, Ladd D, Norton EG, Pavelin E. 2006. Secondary initiation of multiple bands of cumulonimbus over southern Britain. I: An observational case-study. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 132: 1021-1051.
49. Mueller CK, Carbone RE. 1987. Dynamics of a thunderstorm outflow. J. Atmos. Sci. 44: 1879-1898.
50. Negri AJ, Adler RF, Xu L, Surratt J. 2004. The impact of Amazonian deforestation on dry season rainfall. J. Climate 17: 1306-1319.
51. Pellarin T, Tran T, Cohard JM, Galle S, Laurent JP, de Rosnay P, Vischel T. 2009. Soil moisture mapping over West Africa with a 30-min temporal resolution using AMSR-E observations and a satellite-based rainfall product. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 12: 1887-1896.
52. Pfister L, Chan KR, Bui TP, Bowen S, Legg M, Gary B, Kelly K, Proffitt M, Starr W. 1993. Gravity waves generated by a tropical cyclone during the STEP tropical field program: A case study. J. Geophys. Res. 98: 8611-8638.
53. Piani C, Durran D, Alexander MJ, Holton JR. 2000. A numerical study of three-dimensional gravity waves triggered by deep tropical convection and their role in the dynamics of the QBO. J. Atmos. Sci. 57: 3689-3702.
54. Raymond DJ. 1983. A forced gravity wave model of self-organizing convection. J. Atmos. Sci. 44: 3528-3543.
55. Redelsperger JL, Thorncroft CD, Diedhiou A, Lebel T, Parker DJ, Polcher J. 2006. African monsoon multidisciplinary analysis. An international research project and field campaign. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 87: 1739-1746.
56. Ross AN, Tompkins AM, Parker DJ. 2004. Simple models of the role of surface fluxes on convective cold pool evolution. J. Atmos. Sci. 61: 1582-1595.
57. Rottman JW, Simpson JE. 1989. The formation of internal bores in the atmosphere: A laboratory model. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 115: 941-963.
58. Segal M, Arritt RW. 1992. Nonclassical mesoscale circulations caused by surface sensible heat-flux gradients. B. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 73(10): 1593-1604.
59. Smith RK. 1988. Travelling waves and bores in the lower atmopshere: The 'morning glory' and related phenomena. Earth-Sci. Rev. 25: 267-290.
60. Song IS, Chun HY, Lane TP. 2003. Generation mechanisms of convectively forced internal gravity waves and their propagation to the stratosphere. J. Atmos. Sci. 60: 1960-1980.
61. Stensrud DJ, Fritsch JM. 1993. Mesoscale convective systems in weakly forced large-scale environments. Part I: Observations. Mon. Weath. Rev. 121: 3326-3344.
62. Stensrud DJ, Fritsch JM. 1994. Mesoscale convective systems in weakly forced large-scale environments. Part III: Numerical simulations and implications for operational forecasting. Mon. Weath. Rev. 122: 2084-2104.
63. Stobie JG, Einaudi F, Uccellini LW. 1983. A case study of gravity wave-convective storms interaction: 9 May 1979. J. Atmos. Sci. 40: 2804-2830.
64. Taylor CM, Clark DB. 2001. The diurnal cycle and African easterly waves: A land surface perspective. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 127: 845-867.
65. Taylor CM, Ellis RJ. 2006. Satellite detection of soil moisture impacts on convection at the mesoscale. Geophys. Res. Let. 33: L03404. DOI:10.1029/2005GL025252.
66. Taylor CM, Lebel T. 1998. Observational evidence of persistent convective-scale rainfall patterns. Mon. Weath. Rev. 126: 1597-1607.
67. Taylor CM, Saïd F, Lebel T. 1997. Interactions between the land surface and mesoscale rainfall variability during HAPEX-Sahel. Mon. Weath. Rev. 125: 2211-2227.
68. Taylor CM, Parker DJ, Harris PP. 2007. An observational case study of mesoscale atmospheric circulations induced by soil moisture. Geophys. Res. Lett. 34: L15801. DOI:10.1029/2007GL030572.
69. Taylor CM, Harris PP, Parker DJ. 2010. Impact of soil moisture on the development of the Sahelian mesoscale convective system: A case-study from the AMMA Special Observing Period. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 456-470.
70. Taylor CM, Gounou A, Guichard F, Harris PP, Ellis RJ, Coureux F, De Kauwe M. 2011. Frequency of Sahelian storm initiation enhanced over mesoscale soil-moisture patterns. Nature Geosci. 4: 430-433.
71. Tompkins AM. 2001. Organisation of tropical convection in low wind shears: The role of cold pools. J. Atmos. Sci. 58: 1650-1672.
72. Trigo IF, Monteiro IT, Olesen F, Kabcsh E. 2008. An assessment of remotely sensed land surface temperature. J. Geophys. Res. 113: D17 108. DOI:10.1029/2008JD010035.
73. Uccellini LW, Koch SE. 1987. The synoptic setting and possible energy sources for mesoscale wave disturbances. Mon. Weath. Rev. 115: 721-729.
74. Wang J, Chagnon FJF, Williams ER, Betts AK, Renno NO, Machado LAT, Bisht G, Knox R, Brase RL. 2009. Impact of deforestation in the Amazon basin on cloud climatology. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 106: 3670-3674.
75. Wilson DR, Ballard SP. 1999. A microphysically based precipitation scheme for the UK Meteorological Office Unified Model. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 125: 1607-1636.
76. Wolters D, van Heerwaarden CC, Vilá-Guerau de Arellano J, Cappelaere B, Ramier D. 2010. Effects of soil moisture gradients on the path and the intensity of a West African squall line. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 2162-2175.
77. Xue M, Xu Q, Droegemeier KK. 1997. A theoretical and numerical study of density currents in non-constant shear flows. J. Atmos. Sci. 54: 1998-2019.