MOISTURE ANALYSIS AND WATER BUDGET IN THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORMS

Abstract

With use of the mean observed wind and mean mixing ratio in layers of 100-mb thickness, the water budget was computed for three different types of cyclone development. The results indicated a fair agreement between the computed and observed amounts of precipitation. There were indications that the free water in the form of cloud droplets may remain in suspension for several hours before being released as precipitation. The relationship between the integrated moisture patterns and the observed precipitation distribution was determined. There appears to be a maximum precipitation area on the forward left side of the axis of maximum water vapor content. In the absence of thunderstorm activity the limit of the rain area towards the warm side appears to coincide very nearly with the line of zero mean vorticity. However, no such agreement exists between the cold limit of the rainfall area and the vorticity distribution.