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This document analyzes two nocturnal mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that occurred in western Kansas on July 15, 2015 using observational data from the PECAN field project. The northern MCS (MCSN) weakened significantly, while the southern MCS (MCSS) maintained its strength and organized into a bow echo. Radar analysis found MCSS had a stronger rear inflow jet that transported smaller ice particles into the rear of updraft regions, enhancing mid-level updraft through latent heat release. In contrast, the weaker rear inflow jet in MCSN generated weaker updraft and more evaporation below the freezing level. The strength difference was further amplified by localized environmental stabilization near MCS
This document analyzes two nocturnal mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that occurred in western Kansas on July 15, 2015 using observational data from the PECAN field project. The northern MCS (MCSN) weakened significantly, while the southern MCS (MCSS) maintained its strength and organized into a bow echo. Radar analysis found MCSS had a stronger rear inflow jet that transported smaller ice particles into the rear of updraft regions, enhancing mid-level updraft through latent heat release. In contrast, the weaker rear inflow jet in MCSN generated weaker updraft and more evaporation below the freezing level. The strength difference was further amplified by localized environmental stabilization near MCS
This document analyzes two nocturnal mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that occurred in western Kansas on July 15, 2015 using observational data from the PECAN field project. The northern MCS (MCSN) weakened significantly, while the southern MCS (MCSS) maintained its strength and organized into a bow echo. Radar analysis found MCSS had a stronger rear inflow jet that transported smaller ice particles into the rear of updraft regions, enhancing mid-level updraft through latent heat release. In contrast, the weaker rear inflow jet in MCSN generated weaker updraft and more evaporation below the freezing level. The strength difference was further amplified by localized environmental stabilization near MCS
Microphysical and Near-Storm Environmental Control
on the Maintenance of Two Nocturnal MCSs during
PECAN
Frederick Iat-Hin Tam1 , Ming-Jen Yang1 , Wen-Chau Lee2
1 ) Department of Atmospheric Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 2 ) Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Two nocturnal mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurred in western
Kansas, USA at 15 July 2015 are analyzed using multiple ground-based and airborne observational datasets collected during the Plains Elevated Convec- tion At Night (PECAN; Geerts et al. 2017) field project. These two systems propagated under similarly low shear environment, yet their evolution differed significantly: the northern MCS (M CSN ) weakened dramatically but the south- ern MCS (M CSS ) maintained its strength and later organized into a bow-echo structure. The high temporal and spatial resolution of PECAN datasets enables us to perform detailed observational analyses on the microphysical structure of the two MCS and the subtle thermodynamical and moisture changes in the pre- MCS environments, which can be used to further illustrate the constraints on nocturnal MCS strength impose by the aforementioned factors. Radar analysis reveals a strong relationship between MCS strength and their internal structure. Specifically, the strength of the rear inflow jet (RIJ; eg. Houze 2004) seemed to be important in determining the intensity of these sys- tems. Stronger and deeper RIJ in M CSS transported smaller ice particles into the rear of the strong convective cells and subsequently enhanced the mid-level updraft by extra latent heat release associated with vapor deposition and rim- ing as these particles entrained into the updraft region. Weaker RIJ in M CSN generated a different response, with weaker updraft and increased evaporation below the freezing level due to longer hydrometeor residence time. This finding is similar to the hydrometeor recirculation process proposed by Siegel and Van den Heever (2013). MCS strength difference was further amplified by the subtle changes in the pre-MCS environment. Observations indicated the existence of localized envi- ronmental stabilization near M CSN , which was caused by sustained subsidence in low troposphere. This subsidence generated an inversion layer and trans- ported drier air aloft into low troposphere. These processes also played a role in the weakening of M CSN .
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