Radar Analysis of a Tropical Convective Boundary Layer with Shallow Cumulus Clouds

Abstract

A situation of fair weather cloudy convection is examined using a dual Doppler radar, environmental measurements and cloud photogrammetry. The convective layer is characterized by the interaction between the northward monsoon wind at low levels and the easterly wind above; a convective organization is found to be related to the sheer between both flows. Moreover, at the convective scale, properties of the convective layer below clouds and in clew air are considered. They show significant differences in buoyancy and entrainment effects but similar effects of the shear on variances and momentum production profiles.