|
191001-363513-4I
20-NGI3-109
N/A
8/1/2020
2022-5-31 0:0:0
Active
$721,292.00
Improved Understanding of the Kinematic and Thermodynamic Characteristics of Cold Season, Non-Classical Tornadic Storms
Knupp
Kevin
UAH
Coastal Hazards CH
OAR
The investigation of tornado formation includes analysis of storms that spawn unusual or unexpected tornados. From January to April 2021, researchers deployed mobile facilities to collect data on atmospheric boundary layer evolution and cloud characteristics that preceded thunderstorms that formed along or ahead of cold fronts (known as Quasi-Linear Convective Systems, QLCS). They are conducting quality control of and analyzing the data acquired. They are also analyzing pre-storm conditions for 40 cold season events from 2005 to 2021 and have initiated case studies to examine the internal structure of two severe QLCSs (11/18/2017 and 02/12/2020). Included in their studies is the 03/03/2020 tornadic storm that devastated central Tennessee. Additionally, they are conducting inter-comparisons of wind profiles derived from various systems (radar wind profilers, Doppler lidar, Doppler sodar, and scanning Doppler radars). Each case will include analyses of dual Doppler radar data, environmental data from profiling systems and balloon soundings, and the kinematics of QLCS updrafts and downdrafts using vertically pointing Doppler radar data.
|