Parsons bores

Bores During IHOP_2002 and Speculation on Nocturnal Convection: 

Bores During IHOP_2002 and Speculation on Nocturnal Convection David B. Parsons, Crystal Pettet and June Wang NCAR/ATD Acknowledgements to Tammy Weckwerth, Ed Browell et al., Cyrille Flamant et al., and Steve Koch and the bore working group Or Things that go Bump in the Night

Primary Motivation for this Study: 

Primary Motivation for this Study Some long known facts……. The Southern Great Plains region has a nocturnal maximum in warm season precipitation.

Slide3: 

Diurnal variation of hourly thunderstorm frequency over the United States. Normalized amplitude of the diurnal cycle is given by the length of the arrows in relation to the scale at bottom left. (Amplitudes are normalized by dividing by the mean hourly thunderstorm frequency averaged over the 24 hr of the day at each station.) Phase (time of maximum thunderstorm frequency) is indicated by the orientation of the arrows. Arrows directed from north to south denote a midnight maximum, arrows directed from east to west denote a 6 a.m. maximum, those from south to north denote a midday maximum, etc. [Based on data in Mon. Wea. Rev., 103, 409 (1975).] (From J.M. Wallace & P.V. Hobbs, “Atmospheric Science An Introductory Survey”, Academic Press, New York, NY, 1977, pp.43) Diurnal Cycle of Rainfall

IHOP_2002 Design and Nocturnal Convection: 

IHOP_2002 Design and Nocturnal Convection Nocturnal precipitation recognized in planning through evening low-level jet flights designed to better understand nocturnal systems (Parsons) Bores flight mission added (Koch and Geerts) Much of bore data collected via ground-based measurements and fortuitous circumstances (e.g., Demoz and Raman lidar calibration, evening LLJ flights)

Primary Motivation for this Study: 

Primary Motivation for this Study Some long known facts……. The Southern Great Plains region has a nocturnal maximum in warm season precipitation. Long-wave radiation cooling and an absence of solar heating means cooler temperatures at night and likely less potential for convection. There is no shortage of theories proposed to explain this nocturnal maximum. Some form of propagation (latest proponent—Carbone and colleagues) Some form of low-level dynamic forcing (tides, LLJ and regional circulations, etc – dates back to Pleagle et al, recently Dai) Dynamic forcing north of the stationary front and above the stationary front

Slide6: 

Hypothesis: If nocturnal convection was forced by persistent regional forcing (LLJ-heating on sloped terrain, tides, etc)……….. Then some pronounced signal should appear in the diurnal signal of CAPE and CIN

Slide7: 

CAPE/CIN: mean Larger CAPE for LLJ throughout the diurnal cycle Maximum CAPE but minimum CIN in the afternoon for LLJ The 2nd small maximum at ~0.5 km around early morning Speculation: If nocturnal low-level forcing occurs it is weak and perhaps insignificant in forcing the nocturnal convection.

Sounding-based Schematic of Nocturnal Convection Initiation: 

Sounding-based Schematic of Nocturnal Convection Initiation From Trier and Parsons 1993 Cases of this type were few during IHOP_2002 and not yet analyzed. Future talk.

Slide9: 

US Warm Season Precipitation Eastward propagation of mountain-generated systems from the previous afternoon (Riley et al. 1987, Carbone et al. 2002) Speculation: Since there are no strong signals in the mean CAPEs and CINS, perhaps convection itself may hold the key to propagation. How do nocturnal convective systems behave?

Slide10: 

GOAL: Attempt to answer the conundrum of why there is a nocturnal precipitation maximum over the Southern Great Plains when the convective stability is less favorable. METHOD: Focus on nocturnal precipitation systems. Link together IHOP_2002 remote sensing data from (at this point) radar, lidar, and profiler with stability measurements from radisondes.

Question #1: 

Question #1 How do nocturnal convective systems “behave”?

Nocturnal MCS 20 June: 

Nocturnal MCS 20 June

Slide13: 

An example of a nocturnal undular bore 20 June

20 June – Surface Data : 

20 June – Surface Data Arrival of wave train in pressure field No corresponding temperature change

4 June: 

4 June

S-Pol Bore/Wave Events: 

S-Pol Bore/Wave Events 27 MAY 11 June

18 June 2002: 

18 June 2002

2 June Bore/Wave Event: 

2 June Bore/Wave Event

12 June Bore/Wave Event: 

12 June Bore/Wave Event

13 June Bore/Wave Event: 

13 June Bore/Wave Event

21 June Bore/Wave Event: 

21 June Bore/Wave Event

25 June Bore/Wave Event: 

25 June Bore/Wave Event

Question #1: 

Question #1 How do nocturnal convective systems “behave”? They behave badly by the standards of daytime convection !! They often produce bores, while daytime convection has long been known to favor gust fronts. Answer #1

Question #2: 

Question #2 How “common” are these so-called bores and what are their characteristics?

BORES!!!!!: 

BORES!!!!!

Slide27: 

S-Pol and MAPR bore/wave events ~18 bore and 8 wave events were observed in the S-Pol and MAPR data sets. Bore events are observed in the later stages of LLJ periods when precipitation occurs.

Slide28: 

800 m 1000 m 1300 m Pre-bore Winds: Composite 2700 km

Answer #2: Bore Charateristics: 

Answer #2: Bore Charateristics Bore/wave disturbances are ubiquitous over this region at night when convection is present. ~26 event. Most events occur at the end of LLJ moisture return periods (when convection is present) A single radars can undercount bore/wave events, since the lifting can be limited to heights above the PBL. Thus, ~26 events may be an undercount. These disturbances are (almost) always initiated by convection (evidence for both a secondary evening and larger nocturnal initiation). Bores occur later in the program and we did not see bore triggering by dry fronts.

Bore Characteristics: 

Bore Characteristics Typical spacings of waves ~10-14 km, surface evidence (pressure disturbances (.25 – 1.5 hpa) with some closed circulations, typical duration is ~3-6 hrs with mesoscale to synoptic coverage areas. The winds just ahead of the bores are typically a strong low-level jet.

Question #3: So what or why are bores important (e.g., Jim Wilson only found three initiation events)?: 

Question #3: So what or why are bores important (e.g., Jim Wilson only found three initiation events)?

20 June (MAPR): 

20 June (MAPR)

Bore Height Displacements: 

Bore Height Displacements Time (mins) Scattering Layer Height (km) Reference slope of .5 m/s Reference slope of .5 m/s

Water Vapor: 20 June: 

Water Vapor: 20 June

Slide35: 

Day-time: Surface-based convection is preferred but high CIN Post-bore: Elevated convection is preferred (high CAPE, low CIN)

Slide36: 

1730 pm 0301 am “Surface”-based Parcel expected due to radiational cooling ! Dramatic stabilization, Unstable, capped env. Very stable 20TH June

Slide37: 

1730 pm 0301 am “Surface” and Inversion Parcels 1730 pm 0301 am Opposite trends Instability increases during the night In fact the parcels are easier to convect than during the day!!!!

IHOP_2002 Sounding Western OK1730 pm LST: 

IHOP_2002 Sounding Western OK 1730 pm LST CAPE CIN

20 June: 3 am Sounding: 

20 June: 3 am Sounding Dramatic moisture increase

Question #3: Why are bores important?: 

Question #3: Why are bores important? Bores provide extremely strong lifting that leaves an environment in their wake that can be unstable to convective lifting aloft. Since this wake air feeds nocturnal convection, bores are a possible mechanism for maintaining deep convection in the presence of unstable surface conditions. Large stability and moisture variations are found during the subsequent day. SPC forecaster feel bores likely explain these variations.

20 June Case: 

20 June Case Undular-bore like structure present in radar and profiler data (actually 3 events were present) Net effect of the bore is a (~200 hPa) deepening of moisture and a reduction in convective inhibition Now examining additional cases Caveat: Additional changes present, low-level moisture content increases with SE flow

S-Pol Bore/Wave Events: 

S-Pol Bore/Wave Events 27 MAY 11 June

2 June Bore/Wave Event: 

2 June Bore/Wave Event

Slide44: 

BORE Example From MAPR 4 June Pre-bore height Post height

12 June Bore/Wave Event: 

12 June Bore/Wave Event

13 June Bore/Wave Event: 

13 June Bore/Wave Event

21 June Bore/Wave Event: 

21 June Bore/Wave Event

25 June Bore/Wave Event: 

25 June Bore/Wave Event

Findings: 

Findings Bore/wave disturbances are ubiquitous over this region at night when convection is present. ~26 event. Most events occur at the end of LLJ moisture return periods (when convection is present) These disturbances can promote intense lifting with net displacements of up to ~1-2 km. They creating a deeper moist inflow and favorably impact stability. Peak vertical motions are >1-2 m/s. Surface radars undercount bore/wave events (at a fixed location), since the lifting can be limited to heights above the PBL. Thus, ~26 events is likely a severe undercount! These disturbances are (almost) always initiated by convection (slight evidence for both a secondary evening and larger nocturnal initiation). Later in the program and initiation is not by dry fronts. Typical spacings of waves ~10-14 km, surface evidence (pressure disturbances (.25 – 1.5 hpa) with some closed circulations, typical duration is ~3-6 hrs with mesoscale to synoptic coverage areas.

Time of Occurrence: 

Time of Occurrence

20 June Event (cont.): 

20 June Event (cont.)

Slide52: 

S-Pol and MAPR bore/wave events ~18 bore and 8 wave events were observed in the S-Pol and MAPR data sets. Bore events are observed in the later stages of LLJ periods when precipitation occurs.

Example of a Nocturnal Undular Bore: 

Example of a Nocturnal Undular Bore 20 June Doppler Velocity Doppler Velocity

Water Vapor: 20 June: 

Water Vapor: 20 June