TROPOPAUSE PENETRATIONS BY CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS.
Abstract
This report presents a summary and analysis of three years of research on penetrations of the tropopause by cumulonimbus clouds. During this time, a four year climatology of penetrations of the tropopause by thunderstorms was constructed for ten locations in the United States. WSR-57 radar data were used to determine the height of the thunderstorms during the 1961 through 1964 period. Tropopuase penetrations of more than 5,000 feet were summarized by geographical areas, months, and on an hourly basis. The number of cloud tops above 60,000 feet and the number of consecutive hours of penetrations at a station were also investigated. Three years of data from USAF radar stations abroad suggest a very small number of penetrations in the tropics and high midlatitudes. Changes in the height and character of the tropopause near penetrations were studied in two serial sounding situations. Also, a method of estimating the maximum height of thunderstorms was proposed and tested with a small data sample. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0621573
Entities
People
- Howard H. Hanks
- Michael J. Long
- Robert G. Beebe