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Environments characterized by large values of vertical wind shear and modest convective available potential energy (CAPE) are colloquially referred to as high-shear, low-CAPE (HSLC) environments. Convection within these environments represents a considerable operational forecasting challenge. Generally, it has been determined that large low-level wind shear and steep low-level lapse rates—along with synoptic-scale forcing for ascent—are common ingredients supporting severe HSLC convection. This work studies the specific processes that lead to the development of strong surface vortices in HSLC convection, particularly associated with supercells embedded within a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS), and how these processes are affected by varying low-level shear vector magnitudes and lapse rates. Analysis of a control simulation, conducted with a base state similar to a typical HSLC severe environment, reveals that the key factors in the development of a strong surface vortex in HSLC embedded supercells are (i) a strong low- to midlevel mesocyclone, and (ii) a subsequent strong low-level updraft that results from the intense, upward-pointing dynamic perturbation pressure gradient acceleration. Through a matrix of high-resolution, idealized simulations, it is determined that sufficient low-level shear vector magnitudes are necessary for the development of low- to midlevel vertical vorticity [factor (i)], while steeper low-level lapse rates provide stronger initial low-level updrafts [factor (ii)]. This work shows why increased low-level lapse rates and low-level shear vector magnitudes are important to HSLC convection on the storm scale, while also revealing similarities between surface vortexgenesis in HSLC embedded supercells and higher-CAPE supercells.
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Dynamics of Simulated High-Shear, Low-CAPE Supercells
Abstract High-shear, low-CAPE environments prevalent in the southeastern United States account for a large fraction of tornadoes and pose challenges for operational meteorologists. Yet, existing knowledge of supercell dynamics, particularly in the context of cloud-resolving modeling, is dominated by moderate- to high-CAPE environments typical of the Great Plains. This study applies high-resolution modeling to clarify the behavior of supercells in the more poorly understood low-CAPE environments, and compares them to a benchmark simulation in a higher-CAPE environment. Simulated low-CAPE supercells’ main updrafts do not approach the theoretical equilibrium level; their largest vertical velocities result not from buoyancy, but from dynamic accelerations associated with low-level mesocyclones and vortices. Surprisingly, low-CAPE tornado-like vortex parcels also sometimes stop ascending near the vortex top instead of carrying large vorticity upward into the midlevel updraft, contributing to vortex shallowness. Each of these low-CAPE behaviors is attributed to dynamic perturbation pressure gradient accelerations that are maximized in low levels, which predominate when the buoyancy is small.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1748715
- PAR ID:
- 10317082
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
- Volume:
- 78
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 0022-4928
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Observed supercell updrafts consistently produce the fastest mid- to upper-tropospheric vertical velocities among all modes of convection. Two hypotheses for this feature are investigated. In the dynamic hypothesis, upward, largely rotationally driven pressure gradient accelerations enhance supercell updrafts relative to other forms of convection. In the thermodynamic hypothesis, supercell updrafts have more low-level inflow than ordinary updrafts because of the large vertical wind shear in supercell environments. This large inflow makes supercell updrafts wider than that of ordinary convection and less susceptible to the deleterious effects of entrainment-driven updraft core dilution on buoyancy. These hypotheses are tested using a large suite of idealized supercell simulations, wherein vertical shear, CAPE, and moisture are systematically varied. Consistent with the thermodynamic hypothesis, storms with the largest storm-relative flow have larger inflow, are wider, have larger buoyancy, and have faster updrafts. Analyses of the vertical momentum forcing along trajectories shows that maximum vertical velocities are often enhanced by dynamic pressure accelerations, but this enhancement is accompanied by larger downward buoyant pressure accelerations than in ordinary convection. Integrated buoyancy along parcel paths is therefore a strong constraint on maximum updraft speeds. Thus, through a combination of processes consistent with the dynamic and thermodynamic hypotheses, supercell updrafts are able to realize a larger percentage of CAPE than ordinary updrafts.more » « less
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null (Ed.)Abstract In supercell environments, previous authors have shown strong connections between the vertical wind shear magnitude, updraft width, and entrainment. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that the influences of entrainment-driven dilution on buoyancy and maximum updraft vertical velocity w in supercell environments are a predictable function of the vertical wind shear profile. It is also hypothesized that the influences of pressure perturbation forces on maximum updraft w are small because of a nearly complete offset between upward dynamic pressure forces and downward buoyant pressure forces. To address these hypotheses, we derive a formula for the maximum updraft w that incorporates the effects of entrainment-driven dilution on buoyancy but neglects pressure gradient forces. Solutions to this formula are compared with output from previous numerical simulations. This formula substantially improves predictions of maximum updraft w over past CAPE-derived formulas for maximum updraft w , which supports the first hypothesis. Furthermore, integrated vertical accelerations along trajectories show substantial offsets between dynamic and buoyant pressure forces, supporting the second hypothesis. It is argued that the new formula should be used in addition to CAPE-derived measures for w in forecast and research applications when accurate diagnosis of updraft speed is required.more » « less
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-20-0117.1
