Campus Units

Geological and Atmospheric Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Version

Published Version

Publication Date

10-1-1996

Journal or Book Title

Monthly Weather Review

Volume

124

Issue

10

First Page

2267

Last Page

2281

DOI

10.1175/1520-0493(1996)124<2267:TIOMIT>2.0.CO;2

Abstract

A two-dimensional cloud model is used to investigate whether microphysical processes alone within the stratiform rain regions of mesoscale convection systems can induce strong descent and intense surface wake lows accompanying such systems. Idealized simulations are run with a domain that captures the back edge of the stratiform rain region. A simplified microphysical field, representing snow alone, is prescribed within the stratiform cloud to produce radar reflectivities similar to observations. When the prescribed snow field is assumed time-independent, strong subsidence develops but does not induce an intense wake low since microphysical cooling strongly opposes adiabatic warming. Simply increasing snow quantities, although resulting in heavier rain rates and stronger subsidence, does not produce significant pressure falls. However, when precipitation rates are prescribed to decrease with time as might occur with collapsing precipitation cores, subsidence induces greater pressure falls, and a tighter pressure gradient near the wake low, in better agreement with observations.

Comments

This article is published as Gallus Jr, William A. "The influence of microphysics in the formation of intense wake lows: A numerical modeling study." Monthly Weather Review 124, no. 10 (1996): 2267-2281. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0493(1996)1242.0.CO;2. Posted with permission.

Rights

Copyright 1996 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

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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Meteorology Commons

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