Vertical motions of the tropical convective cloud spectrum over Darwin, Australia

Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society

Volumn 141, Issue 691, 2015, Pages 2277-2288

  Schumacher, Courtney ^a   Stevenson, Stephanie N ^b   Williams, Christopher R ^c  

^a TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO   (United States)

Author keywords

Anvil cloud; Stratiform rain; Tropical convection; Vertical velocity

Indexed keywords

ATMOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMICS; CLOUDS; RAIN; REFLECTION; TROPICS; VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION;

CLOUD PROPERTIES; CONVECTIVE CLOUDS; REFLECTIVITY PROFILES; TROPICAL CONVECTION; VERTICAL MOTIONS; VERTICAL VELOCITY; VERTICAL VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION; VERTICAL VELOCITY PROFILES;

VELOCITY;

ATMOSPHERIC CONVECTION; CLOUD MICROPHYSICS; CONVECTIVE CLOUD; CUMULONIMBUS; STRATIFORM CLOUD; UPDRAFT;

AUSTRALIA; DARWIN; NORTHERN TERRITORY;

EID: 84941082686     PISSN: 00359009     EISSN: 1477870X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/qj.2520     Document Type: Article

References (49)

1. Abhilash S, Mohankumar K, Shankar Das S, Kishore Kumar K. 2010. Vertical structure of tropical mesoscale convective systems: Observations using VHF radar and cloud resolving model simulations. Meteorol. Atmos. Phys. 109: 73-90.
2. Anderson NF, Grainger CA, Stith JL. 2005. Characteristics of strong updrafts in precipitation systems over the central tropical Pacific Ocean and in the Amazon. J.Appl. Meteorol. 44: 731-738.
3. Balsley BB, Gage KS. 1982. On the use of radars for operational wind profiling. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 63: 1009-1018.
4. Chong M, Amayenc P, Scialom G, Testud J. 1987. A tropical squall line observed during the COPT 81 experiment in West Africa. Part I: Kinematic structure inferred from dual-Doppler radar data. Mon. Weather Rev. 115: 670-694.
5. Cifelli R, Rutledge SA. 1994. Vertical motion structure in maritime continent mesoscale convective systems: Results from a 50-MHz profiler. J.Atmos. Sci. 51: 2631-2652.
6. Cifelli R, Rutledge SA. 1998. Vertical motion, diabatic heating, and rainfall characteristics in north Australia convective systems. Q. J.R. Meteorol. Soc. 124: 1133-1162.
7. Cifelli R, Petersen WA, Carey LD, Rutledge SA, da Silva Dias MAF. 2002. Radar observations of the kinematic, microphysical, and precipitation characteristics of two MCSs in TRMM LBA. J.Geophys. Res. 107: 8077, doi:10.1029/2000JD000264.
8. Collis S, Protat A, May PT, Williams CR. 2013. Statistics of storm updraft velocities from TWP-ICE including verification with profiling measurements. J.Appl. Meteorol. Clim. 52: 1909-1922.
9. Del Genio AD, Wu J. 2010. The role of entrainment in the diurnal cycle of continental convection. J.Clim. 23: 2722-2738.
10. Frederick K, Schumacher C. 2008. Anvil characteristics as seen by C-POL during the Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE). Mon. Weather Rev. 136: 206-222.
11. Fukao S, Wakasugi K, Sato T, Morimoto S, Tsuda T, Hirota I, Kimura I, Kato S. 1985. Direct measurement of air and precipitation particle motion by very high frequency Doppler radar. Nature 316: 534-565.
12. Giangrande SE, Collis S, Straka J, Protat A, Williams CR, Krueger S. 2013. A summary of convective-core vertical velocity properties using ARM UHF wind profilers in Oklahoma. J.Appl. Meteorol. Clim. 52: 2278-2295.
13. Heymsfield GM, Tian L, Heymsfield AJ, Li L, Guimond S. 2010. Characteristics of deep tropical and subtropical convection from nadir-viewing high-altitude airborne Doppler radar. J.Atmos. Sci. 67: 285-308.
14. Hirose M, Nakamura K. 2004. Spatio-temporal variation of the vertical gradient of vertical rainfall rate observed by the TRMM precipitation radar. J.Clim. 17: 3378-3397.
15. Houze RA, Jr. 1989. Observed structure of mesoscale convective systems and implications for large-scale heating. Q. J.R. Meteorol. Soc. 115: 425-461.
16. Houze RA, Jr. 1993. Cloud Dynamics. Academic Press: San Diego, CA.
17. Jorgensen DP, LeMone MA. 1989. Vertically velocity characteristics of oceanic convection. J.Atmos. Sci. 46: 621-640.
18. Jorgensen DP, Zipser EJ, LeMone MA. 1985. Vertical motions in intense hurricanes. J.Atmos. Sci. 42: 839-856.
19. Keenan TD, Glasson K, Cummings F, Bird TS, Keeler J, Lutz J. 1998. The BMRC/NCAR C-band polarimetric (C-POL) radar system. J.Atmos. Oceanic Technol. 15: 871-886.
20. Kumar KL, Jain AR, Rao DN. 2005. VHF/UHF radar observations of tropical mesoscale convective systems over southern India. Ann. Geophys. 23: 1673-1683.
21. Leary CA, Houze RA, Jr. 1979. Melting and evaporation of hydrometeors in precipitation from the anvil clouds of deep tropical convection. J.Atmos. Sci. 36: 669-679.
22. LeMone MA, Zipser EJ. 1980. Cumulonimbus vertical velocity events in GATE. Part I: Diameter, intensity and mass flux. J.Atmos. Sci. 37: 2444-2457.
23. Liu C, Zipser EJ. 2013. Why does radar reflectivity tend to increase downward toward the ocean surface, but decrease downward toward the land surface?. J.Geophys. Res. 118: 135-148, doi:10.1029/2012JD018134.
24. Lucas C, Zipser EJ, LeMone MA. 1994. Vertical velocity in oceanic convection. J.Atmos. Sci. 51: 3183-3193.
25. May PT, Ballinger A. 2007. The statistical characteristics of convective cells in a monsoon regime (Darwin, Northern Australia). Mon. Weather Rev. 135: 82-92.
26. May PT, Keenan TD. 2005. Evaluation of microphysical retrievals from polarimetric radar with wind profiler data. J.Appl. Meteorol. 44: 827-838.
27. May PT, Rajopadhyaya DK. 1996. Wind profiler observations of vertical motion and precipitation microphysics of a tropical squall line. Mon. Weather Rev. 124: 621-633.
28. May PT, Rajopadhyaya DK. 1999. Vertical velocity characteristics of deep convection over Darwin, Australia. Mon. Weather Rev. 127: 1056-1071.
29. May PT, Jameson AR, Keenan TD, Johnston PE, Lucas C. 2002. Combined wind profiler/polarimetric radar studies of the vertical motion and microphysical characteristics of tropical sea-breeze thunderstorms. Mon. Weather Rev. 130: 2228-2239.
30. May PT, Mather JH, Vaughan G, Bower KN, Jakob C, McFarquhar GM, Mace GG. 2008. The tropical warm pool international cloud experiment. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 89: 629-645.
31. Moran KP, Martner BE, Post MJ, Kropfli RA, Welsh DC, Widener KB. 1998. An unattended cloud-profiling radar for use in climate research. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 79: 443-455.
32. Mori S, Hamada J-I, Yamanaka MD, Kodama Y-M, Kawashima M, Shimomai T, Shibagaki Y, Hashiguchi H, Sribimawati T. 2006. Vertical wind characteristics in precipitating cloud systems over west Sumatra, Indonesia, observed with Equatorial Atmosphere Radar: Case study of 23-24 April 2004 during the first CPEA campaign period. J.Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. 84: 113-131.
33. Mrowiec AA, Rio C, Fridlind AM, Ackerman AS, Del Genio AD, Pauluis OM, Varble AC, Fan J. 2012. Analysis of cloud-resolving simulations of a tropical mesoscale convective system observed during TWP-ICE: Vertical fluxes and draft properties in convective and stratiform regions. J.Geophys. Res. 117: D19201, doi:10.1029/2012JD017759.
34. Pandya RE, Durran DR. 1996. The influence of convectively generated thermal forcing on the mesoscale circulation around squall lines. J.Atmos. Sci. 53: 2924-2951.
35. Protat A, Williams CR. 2011. The accuracy of radar estimates of ice terminal fall speed from vertically pointing Doppler radar measurements. J.Appl. Meteorol. Clim. 50: 2120-2138.
36. Rao TN, Uma KN, Satyanarayana TM, Rao DN. 2009. Differences in draft core statistics from the wet to dry spell over Gadanki, India (13.5°N, 79.2°E). Mon. Weather Rev. 137: 4293-4306.
37. Sassen K, Wang L, Starr DO, Comstock JM, Quante M. 2007. A midlatitude cirrus cloud climatology from the Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing. Part V: Cloud structural properties. J.Atmos. Sci. 64: 2483-2501.
38. Schumacher C, Houze RA, Jr. 2006. Stratiform precipitation production over sub-Saharan Africa and the tropical east Atlantic as observed by TRMM. Q. J.R. Meteorol. Soc. 132: 2235-2255.
39. Steiner M, Houze RA, Jr, Yuter SE. 1995. Climatological characterization of three-dimensional storm structure from operational radar and rain gauge data. J.Appl. Meteorol. 34: 1978-2007.
40. Uma KN, Rao TN. 2009. Characteristics of vertical velocity cores in different convective systems observed over Gadanki, India. Mon. Weather Rev. 137: 954-975.
41. Uma KN, Kumar KK, Shankar Das S, Rao TN, Satyanarayana TM. 2012. On the vertical distribution of mean vertical velocities in the convective regions during the wet and dry spells of the monsoon over Gadanki. Mon. Weather Rev. 140: 398-410.
42. Varble AC, Zipser EJ, Fridlind AM, Zhu P, Ackerman AS, Chaboureau J-P, Collis S, Fan JW, Hill A, Shipway B. 2014. Evaluation of cloud-resolving and limited area model intercomparison simulations using TWP-ICE observations. Part 1: Deep convective updraft properties. J.Geophys. Res. Atmos. 119: 13891-13918, doi:10.1002/2013JD021371.
43. Wakasugi K, Mizutani A, Matsuo M, Fukao S, Kato S. 1986. A direct method for deriving drop-size distribution and vertical air velocities from VHF Doppler radar spectra. J.Atmos. Oceanic Technol. 3: 623-629.
44. Williams CR. 2012. Vertical air motion retrieved from dual-frequency profiler observations. J.Atmos. Oceanic Technol. 29: 1471-1480.
45. Yuter SE, Houze RA, Jr. 1995. Three-dimensional kinematic and microphysical evolution of Florida cumulonimbus. Part II: Frequency distributions of vertical velocity, reflectivity, and differential reflectivity. Mon. Weather Rev. 123: 1941-1963.
46. Zhu P, Dudhia J, Field PR, Wapler K, Fridlind A, Varble A, Zipser E, Petch J, Chen M, Zhu ZD. 2012. A limited area model (LAM) intercomparison study of a TWP-ICE active monsoon mesoscale convective event. J.Geophys. Res. 117: D11208, doi:10.1029/2011JD016447.
47. Zipser EJ, Gautier C. 1978. Mesoscale events within a GATE tropical depression. Mon. Weather Rev. 106: 789-805.
48. Zipser EJ, LeMone MA. 1980. Cumulonimbus vertical velocity events in GATE. Part II: Synthesis and model core structure. J.Atmos. Sci. 37: 2458-2469.
49. Zipser EJ, Lutz KR. 1994. The vertical profile of radar reflectivity of convective cells: A strong indicator of storm intensity and lightning probability?. Mon. Weather Rev. 122: 1751-1759.