The Effect of Horizontal Pressure Gradients on the Momentum Transport in Tropical Convective Lines. Part II: Lagrangian Calculations

Abstract

The movement of a set of Lagrangian parcels in the two-dimensional pressure field associated with a tropical convective line is considered. The results are compared with observational characteristics of GATE quasi-two-dimensional convective lines. It is shown that for the composite, slow-moving GATE convective line it is necessary to account for horizontal pressure gradients in order to obtain realistic momentum flux. The role of vertical pressure gradients and initial conditions for an air parcel's movement is studied. Based on the results, some suggestions concerning proper formulation of parameterization of the convective momentum flux are made.