Observations of the Surface Boundary Structure within the 23 May 2007 Perryton, Texas, Supercell

被引:26
|
作者
Skinner, Patrick S. [1 ]
Weiss, Christopher C. [1 ]
Schroeder, John L. [1 ]
Wicker, Louis J. [2 ]
Biggerstaff, Michael I. [3 ]
机构
[1] Texas Tech Univ, Dept Wind Sci & Engn, Lubbock, TX 79409 USA
[2] Natl Severe Storms Lab, Norman, OK 73069 USA
[3] Univ Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 USA
基金
美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
REAR-FLANK DOWNDRAFTS; TORNADIC SUPERCELLS; MOBILE MESONET; RADAR DATA; THUNDERSTORM; STORM; TORNADOGENESIS; PRESSURE; SIMULATION; BUOYANCY;
D O I
10.1175/MWR-D-10-05078.1
中图分类号
P4 [大气科学(气象学)];
学科分类号
0706 ; 070601 ;
摘要
In situ data collected within a weakly tornadic, high-precipitation supercell occurring on 23 May 2007 near Perryton, Texas, are presented. Data were collected using a recently developed fleet of 22 durable, rapidly deployable probes dubbed "Stick Net" as well as four mobile mesonet probes. Kinematic and thermodynamic observations of boundaries within the supercell are described in tandem with an analysis of data from the Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar. Observations within the rear-flank downdraft of the storm exhibit large deficits of both virtual potential temperature and equivalent potential temperature, with a secondary rear-flank downdraft gust front trailing the mesocyclone. A primarily thermodynamic boundary resided across the forward-flank reflectivity gradient of the supercell. This boundary is characterized by small deficits in virtual potential temperature coupled with positive perturbations of equivalent potential temperature. The opposing thermodynamic perturbations appear to be representative of modified storm inflow, with a flux of water vapor responsible for the positive perturbations of the equivalent potential temperature. Air parcels exhibiting negative perturbations of virtual potential temperature and positive perturbations of equivalent potential temperature have the ability to be a source of both baroclinically generated streamwise horizontal vorticity and greater potential buoyancy if ingested by the low-level mesocyclone.
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页码:3730 / 3749
页数:20
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