Title
The influence of Microphysics in the Formation of Intense Wake Lows: A Numerical Modeling Study
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.
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
Copyright Date
1996
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Gallus, William A. Jr., "The influence of Microphysics in the Formation of Intense Wake Lows: A Numerical Modeling Study" (1996). Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Publications. 322.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ge_at_pubs/322
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.