Latent Heat Release in an Extratropical Cyclone that Developed Explosively over the Southeastern United States

Abstract

Using the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres FGGE Level III-b analyses, the latent heat release (LHR) associated with an extratropical cyclone that deepened explosively over the southeastern United States is investigated. Parameterized LUR was calculated and compared with satellite-derived precipitation estimates and observed precipitation rates. The GOES IR data were used to modify the magnitudes and distributions of the parameterized LHR fields while retaining their vertical structure. Finally, the impact of LHR on the explosive development was diagnosed using the extended height tendency equation. In this comparison, LHR accounted for about one-third of the lower tropospheric height falls in the cyclone domain.