Title
Diabatic Effects on Late-Winter Cold Front Evolution: Conceptual and Numerical Model Evaluations
Campus Units
Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Agronomy
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
7-1-1999
Journal or Book Title
Monthly Weather Review
Volume
127
Issue
7
First Page
1518
Last Page
1537
DOI
10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<1518:DEOLWC>2.0.CO;2
Abstract
The impact of diabatic heating on late winter frontogenesis is evaluated both through conceptual scaling and the use of high-resolution Eta Model simulations of a strong but relatively dry cold surface front that occurred during the Storm-scale Operational Research Meteorology Fronts Experiment Systems Test (STORMFEST) project. Although skies were clear ahead of the front, it was trailed by an extensive area of cloud cover that influenced frontal strength during the daylight hours by reducing solar insolation and sensible heat flux.
An Eta control simulation of the event agreed reasonably well with observations and indicated intensification of the frontal temperature gradient during the daytime with a weakening at night. Additional simulations have been done to investigate sensitivity to several diabatic processes. These tests include the role of cloud shading on surface sensible heat flux, the role of soil moisture in the warm sector, and the role of evaporative cooling of precipitation in the light precipitation area behind the cold front. All of these diabatic processes have a measurable impact on the front, although soil moisture and cloud shading appear to play the most important roles. The moisture and static stability of the frontal environment were unfavorable for precipitation along the front, and the increase in frontal strength due to reduced surface sensible heat flux from extensive cloud shading behind the front did not significantly influence near-front precipitation for this event.
Rights
Copyright 1999 AMS https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/publications/authors/journal-and-bams-authors/author-resources/copyright-information/copyright-policy/
Copyright Owner
American Meteorological Society
Copyright Date
1999
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Gallus, William A. Jr. and Segal, Moti, "Diabatic Effects on Late-Winter Cold Front Evolution: Conceptual and Numerical Model Evaluations" (1999). Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Publications. 321.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ge_at_pubs/321
Comments
This article is published as Gallus Jr, William A., and Moti Segal. "Diabatic effects on late-winter cold front evolution: Conceptual and numerical model evaluations." Monthly Weather Review 127, no. 7 (1999): 1518-1537. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<1518:DEOLWC>2.0.CO;2. Posted with permission.