Mesoscale Motion Fields Associated with a Slowly Moving GATE Convective Band

Abstract

The structure of the convective band of 14 September in the dense GATE observing array is determined using wind and thermodynamic data primarily from multiple aircraft penetrations, which are well distributed in the vertical and in time. The well-defined mesoscale features in the line, which are 10?40 km in scale, quasi-two-dimensional, and persist for several hours, determine the distribution of the convective-scale features, which are 5 km or less in size, three-dimensional, not generally detectable for more than one flight leg. At the leading edge, a 30 km zone of strong ascent is computed from two-dimensional continuity. Here, lifting of the ambient air creates a favorable environment?not found elsewhere?for deep cumulonimbus clouds to develop. Their updrafts are weak, 2?4 m s?1 on the average. Behind the updraft zone, below 3?4 km, is a broad descent zone. It corresponds to the stratiform rain area, and has little convection, and some drying at lower levels. On the average, the mass flux by the mesoscale and convective-scale drafts of the updraft zone is about twice as much as that of the descent zone. The rainfall rate in the updraft zone is generally in excess of 8 mm h?1, while that in the downdraft region is less. The horizontal winds normal to the line are strongly modified by pressure forces, while those parallel to the line are changed mainly through mixing. Strong vertical vorticity is created in the line by tilting of the mean shear of the parallel component. As the system matures, the downdraft mass flux increases relative to the updraft mass flux, so that the net mass flux becomes negative during the decay phase. The fraction of the total rain falling in the stratiform zone increases with time. However, considerable rain still falls from intense convective cells as well as the stratiform ?anvil? even when the net mass flux goes to zero in the lowest kilometer. The structure and evolution of the line is similar to that of tropical squall lines, but it is less spectacular. Winds are weaker, there is less mass flow through the system, movement is slower, and there is less drying in the rain area. The line is aligned with the wind and shear, rather than across it, as is the case for many squall lines.