A Modeling Study of the Mesocyclone
Abstract
The mesocyclone is a strongly-rotating column of air associated with the updraft of a severe thunderstorm. The size and shape of the phenomenon allows ready detection with a single Doppler radar. Quantitative evaluation of the mesocyclone has been shown to be useful for the prediction of large hail and tornadoes. Accuracy in mesocyclone interpretation is of course critical to these endeavors. A limitation with single-Doppler observation of the mesocyclone is that the flow field is measured directly in only one dimension. Therefore, the shape and spatial variation of intensity can be difficult to determine. For this reason, it is common practice to assume the mesocyclone flow is circularly symmetric when interpreting the single-Doppler image. The problem is that mesocyclone flows are generally not circular, and the deviation from circular can be considerable. This report presents an improved model for the interpretation of single-Doppler mesocyclone observations. The model describes an elliptical flow pattern of any eccentricity. Some examples of highly distorted, single-Doppler, mesocyclone flows are presented which are well simulated by the model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 04, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA274889
Entities
People
- Paul R. Desrochers
Organizations
- Phillips Laboratory