The Trajectories of Dropsondes in Simulated Thunderstorm Circulations

Abstract

The trajectories of hypothetical dropsondes are calculated in thunderstorm circulations and resultant vertical wind speed profiles as a function of height are constructed for each of the sondes. Motion fields are a) calculated by a time-dependent two-dimensional thunderstorm model and b) constructed based upon observed environmental winds. Model-calculated vertical wind speed profiles are compared with observations for the northeastern Colorado storm of 22 July 1972. Agreement is shown between certain basic features; additionally, other calculations point to various potential features of dropsonde trajectories and vertical wind speed profiles. Possible application of similar methods to the hail growth problem is discussed.