Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes

by Markowski, Paul; Richardson, Yvette

• ISBN13: 9780470742136
• ISBN10: 0470742135
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-02-22
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Mesoscale Meteorology in Mid-Latitudes presents the dynamics of mesoscale meteorological phenomena in a highly accessible student- friendly way, with mathematical treatments complimented by eye-catching photographs and illustrations. Topics include boundary layer convection, nocturnal low-level jets, air mass boundaries (e.g., drylines, gust fronts, sea breezes), deep moist convection, convection initiation, tornadoes and tornado genesis, mountain meteorology (e.g., topographic gravity waves, downslope windstorms, gap flows, wake vortices), lake-effect snow, cold-air damming, and mesoscale gravity waves. A Survey of Mesoscale Meteorology functions as a well-rounded undergraduate textbook whilst also serving as a reference for graduate students, weather forecasters, and research scientists.The book will provide a comprehensive coverage of the subject and will, in effect, be a one-stop-shop for all students taking a mesoscale meteorology course. The book includes chapters on boundary layer mesoscale phenomena, orographic phenomena, and deep convection with the coverage of deep convection and its initiation more comprehensive than can be found in any other text. The book brings together the latest developments in the field from recent mesoscale field experiments such as the Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment (BAMEX), the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX), and the International H2O Project (IHOP)] and is richly illustrated throughout in full colour.

Author Biography

Paul M. Markowski is an American meteorologist and leading expert on tornadogenesis and the forecasting of supercells and tornadoes. He was a principal investigator for the IHOP, PAMREX, and VORTEX2 field projects and, with Joshua Wurman, Howard Bluestein, et al., was on the VORTEX2 Steering Committee.

Yvette Richardson is the author of Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

Series Foreward	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xv
List of Symbols	p. xvii
General Principles	p. 1
What is the Mesoscale?	p. 3
Space and time scales	p. 3
Dynamical distinctions between the mesoscale and synoptic scale	p. 5
Basic Equations and Tools	p. 11
Thermodynamics	p. 11
Mass conservation	p. 16
Momentum equations	p. 17
Vorticity and circulation	p. 21
Pressure perturbations	p. 25
Thermodynamic diagrams	p. 32
Hodographs	p. 34
Mesoscale Instabilities	p. 41
Static instability	p. 41
Centrifugal instability	p. 48
Inertial instability	p. 49
Symmetric instability	p. 53
Shear instability	p. 58
Lower Tropospheric Mesoscale Phenomena	p. 71
The Boundary Layer	p. 73
The nature of turbulent fluxes	p. 73
Surface energy budget	p. 82
Structure and evolution of the boundary layer	p. 83
Boundary layer convection	p. 88
Lake-effect convection	p. 93
Urban boundary layers	p. 103
The nocturnal low-Level wind maximum	p. 105
Air Mass Boundaries	p. 115
Synoptic fronts	p. 117
Drylines	p. 132
Outflow boundaries	p. 140
Mesoscale boundaries originating from differential surface heating	p. 149
Mesoscale Gravity Waves	p. 161
Basic wave conventions	p. 161
Internal gravity wave dynamics	p. 165
Wave reflection	p. 170
Critical levels	p. 172
Structure and environments of ducted mesoscale gravity waves	p. 173
Bores	p. 175
Deep Moist Convection	p. 181
Convection Initiation	p. 183
Requisites for convection initiation and the role of larger scales	p. 183
Mesoscale complexities of convection initiation	p. 189
Moisture convergence	p. 195
Elevated convection	p. 197
Organization of Isolated Convection	p. 201
Rote of vertical wind shear	p. 201
Single-cell convection	p. 206
Multicellular convection	p. 209
Supercellular convection	p. 213
Mesoscale Convective Systems	p. 245
General characteristics	p. 245
Squall line structure	p. 249
Squall line maintenance	p. 253
Rear inflow and bow echoes	p. 260
Mesoscale convective complexes	p. 265
Hazards Associated with Deep Moist Convection	p. 273
Tornadoes	p. 273
Nontornadic, damaging straight-Line winds	p. 292
Hailstorms	p. 306
Flash floods	p. 309
Orographic Mesoscale Phenomena	p. 315
Thermally Forced Winds in Mountainous Terrain	p. 317
Slope winds	p. 317
Valley winds	p. 320
Mountain Waves and Downslope Windstorms	p. 327
Internal gravity waves forced by two-dimensional terrain	p. 327
Gravity waves forced by isolated peaks	p. 332
Downslope windstorms	p. 333
Rotors	p. 342
Blocking of the Wind by Terrain	p. 343
Factors that govern whether air flows over or around a terrain obstacle	p. 343
Orographically trapped cold-air surges	p. 346
Lee vortices	p. 351
Gap flows	p. 358
Appendix	p. 367
A Radar and Its Applications	p. 369
Radar basics	p. 369
Doppler radar principles	p. 371
Applications	p. 374
References	p. 389
Index	p. 399
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