Possible contributions of lid conditions during explosive cyclogenesis.
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Authors
Green, Charles W.
Subjects
Meteorology
explosive cyclogenesis
upper-air sounding
GALE
explosive cyclogenesis
upper-air sounding
GALE
Advisors
Elsberry, Russell L.
Date of Issue
1988
Date
December 1988
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Maritime soundings acquired during the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE) Intensive Observing Periods
OP's) 6 and 11 are evaluated to deterrnine the presence of mid-tropospheric, dry continental air that forms a capping in-
;rsion over cool, moist marine air, which is defined to be a lid. The strength of these lid conditions is evaluated using the
id Strength Index (LSI) developed by Carlson et al. (1980) for continental thunderstorms. The environmental factors confuting
to lid conditions and the lid's possible effects on explosive cyclogenesis are analyzed. During IOP 6. a predominantly
>nal flow advects warm, dry continental air over the region upstream of the convective heat release. Consequently, the air-
•a fluxes and horizontal advection of moist air into the central region of the low are trapped below the lid. With the superosition
of upper-level forcing that lifts and weakens the lid, the IOP 6 low develops explosively. During IOP 11. the
tid-tropospheric air flow is more meridional and no-lid conditions occur upstream from the cyclone region. Consequently,
ie air-sea fluxes and horizontal advection of moisture is not confined to the lower troposphere. Although cyclogenesis occurs
t this environment, it is not explosive. The presence of lid conditions during IOP 6 and the absence of lid conditions during
DP 1 1 are suggested to be one of the factors that differentiated explosive and non-explosive maritime cyclogenesis.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
88 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.