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Title: A numerical investigation of tropical island thunderstorms

Abstract

A version of the United Kingdom Meteorological Office mesoscale weather prediction model is used to simulate cases of deep tropical convection from the Island Thunderstorm Experiment off the north coast of Australia. Selected cases contrast rather isolated storm development in a dry basic state, with widespread precipitation from a moist basic state. Excellent agreement is found between the simulations and the observed early shower development on both occasions. Initiation of convection occurs along the sea-breeze front, which is then reinforced by downdraft outflows. Merging of simulated cells occurs where the outflows meet, producing cells with cloud tops above 18 km and updraft speeds of 60 m s[sup [minus]1]. The later movement of the storms is less well represented, probably due to weakness in the storm-mean flow interaction. Comparison of the cases shows that differences in the timing of initiation and intensity of subsequent convection are well captured, and relate to differences in the initial sounding. Mean budgets of heat. moisture, and momentum are presented, and sensitivity of the simulations to resolution, island shape, and model microphysics is explored. 48 refs., 12 figs.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Bureau of Meterology Research Centre, Melbourne (Australia)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6020024
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Monthly Weather Review; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 121:5; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-0644
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; NORTHERN TERRITORY; STORMS; OCEANIA; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; ENERGY BUDGETS; FORECASTING; HEAT TRANSFER; TROPICAL REGIONS; WEATHER; AUSTRALASIA; AUSTRALIA; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; DISASTERS; ENERGY TRANSFER; MATHEMATICS; SIMULATION; 540110*

Citation Formats

Golding, B W. A numerical investigation of tropical island thunderstorms. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<1417:ANIOTI>2.0.CO;2.
Golding, B W. A numerical investigation of tropical island thunderstorms. United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<1417:ANIOTI>2.0.CO;2
Golding, B W. 1993. "A numerical investigation of tropical island thunderstorms". United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<1417:ANIOTI>2.0.CO;2.
@article{osti_6020024,
title = {A numerical investigation of tropical island thunderstorms},
author = {Golding, B W},
abstractNote = {A version of the United Kingdom Meteorological Office mesoscale weather prediction model is used to simulate cases of deep tropical convection from the Island Thunderstorm Experiment off the north coast of Australia. Selected cases contrast rather isolated storm development in a dry basic state, with widespread precipitation from a moist basic state. Excellent agreement is found between the simulations and the observed early shower development on both occasions. Initiation of convection occurs along the sea-breeze front, which is then reinforced by downdraft outflows. Merging of simulated cells occurs where the outflows meet, producing cells with cloud tops above 18 km and updraft speeds of 60 m s[sup [minus]1]. The later movement of the storms is less well represented, probably due to weakness in the storm-mean flow interaction. Comparison of the cases shows that differences in the timing of initiation and intensity of subsequent convection are well captured, and relate to differences in the initial sounding. Mean budgets of heat. moisture, and momentum are presented, and sensitivity of the simulations to resolution, island shape, and model microphysics is explored. 48 refs., 12 figs.},
doi = {10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<1417:ANIOTI>2.0.CO;2},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6020024}, journal = {Monthly Weather Review; (United States)},
issn = {0027-0644},
number = ,
volume = 121:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}