A NUMERICAL EXPERIMENT ON MESOSCALE MOIST CONVECTION
Abstract
Hinklemann's non-geostrophic multilayered model is modified to include the process of condensation and is applied to the problem of mesoscale convection. The atmosphere is assumed to be uniform along one horizontal coordinate. IBM 704 electronic computer computations were made starting with the same initial wind and temperature fields. In the case where moist air is considered, the initial conditions were chosen to represent two features of the temperature and moisture patterns observed on 11 June 1956 when an instability line developed near a dew-point in western Nebraska. A factor important in determining the location most favorable to the formation of an instability line in a situation where a dew-point front is observed is discussed. It is clear that gravitational instability which is important in the formation of instability lines can be caused by the latent heat supplied during the condensation process. It is concluded that the role of the dew-point front in the formation of an instability line is only to limit the region where this gravitational instability may develop. In some cases the dew-point front may define the western edge of a mesoscale convection system while in other cases where the air immediately to the east of the dew-point front is less humid the convective system may form farther to the east in a region where moisture is present. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1960
- Accession Number
- AD0259149
Entities
People
- Rex L. Inman
- Tom E. Sanford
Organizations
- Texas A&M University