Topic
Gustnado
About: Gustnado is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 20 publications have been published within this topic receiving 622 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: In this article, the initiation of convection associated with a sea-breeze front, a gust front, and their collision is analyzed using data collected in east-central Florida during the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification project.
Abstract: The initiation of convection associated with a sea-breeze front, a gust front, and their collision is analyzed using data collected in east-central Florida during the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification project. In conjunction with satellite, surface, and rawinsonde information, dual-Doppler radar-derived winds are used to determine the three-dimensional kinematic factors critical to storm development. The gust front, which emanated from storms on the western half of the peninsula, propagated more rapidly and was deeper than the sea-breeze front, which originated from the east coast and was characterized by a distinctly scalloped appearance. Convection associated with the sea-breeze front appeared to develop preferentially at the vertices of this scalloped pattern where there were enhanced regions of convergence and upward motion. On the gust front, a Helmholtz shearing instability produced an organized configuration of convergence and updraft maxima along its length. However, these were...
191 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the kinematic and thermodynamic structures of a thunderstorm outflow are examined by means of dual Doppler radar analysis, mesonet, lower, and sounding data.
Abstract: The kinematic and thermodynamic structures of a thunderstorm outflow are examined by means of dual Doppler radar analysis, mesonet, lower, and sounding data. The data were collected in the Denver, Colorado area during June 1984. The dual-Doppler analysis shows that the cold outflow is ducted beneath the PBL inversion. Along the gust front there is a narrow quasi-two-dimensional updraft. Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) developed along the top of the gust front head near the surface front, and propagated backwards, dissipating in the wake of the head region. An isothermal layer aloft appears to have limited billow amplification to the quasi-neutral layer below. The gust front's leading edge had numerous inflections which are believed to result from barotrophic instabilities. Small vortices develop at some of the inflection points. Detailed analysis of one such circulation shows evidence of the formation of two enhanced updrafts separated by an occlusion downdraft. These observations are the firs...
168 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that the rear-flank gust front appears to play a major role in determining the location of the next vortex in the series, when a tornado forms, a small region (3-5 km wide) of outflow surges ahead of the tornado, producing a local bulge in the gust front.
Abstract: On 8 June 1995 scientists participating in the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) collected airborne Doppler radar data in a storm that produced a family of tornadoes near McLean, Texas. The Electra Doppler Radar (ELDORA) scanned three significant tornadoes during their formative and mature stages; one of the tornadoes was of F4/F5 intensity. Evidence from pseudo-dual-Doppler analyses of the ELDORA data reveals a process of cyclic tornado formation qualitatively similar to that depicted in previous conceptual models. In particular, the rear-flank gust front appears to play a major role in determining the location of the next vortex in the series. When a tornado forms, a small region (3–5 km wide) of outflow surges ahead of the tornado, producing a local bulge in the gust front. A new vorticity maximum may form near the leading edge of the outflow. In contrast to what is suggested by earlier conceptual models, intersection of the rear-flank gust front with a w...
122 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the dominant kinematic elements of the supercell rear flank are a downdraft trailing an adjacent updraft, a gust front, and counter-rotating vortices embedded in the gust front convergence zone.
Abstract: Observations are reviewed that show that the dominant kinematic elements of the supercell rear flank are a downdraft trailing an adjacent updraft, a gust front, and counter-rotating vortices embedded in the gust front convergence zone. The associated vortex lines are shaped like arches. In an idealized simulation of the evolution of this flow structure, vortex rings are observed to form around a cool downdraft and in the adjacent periphery of the updraft. These rings are lofted in the rear portion of the updraft, and depressed in the downdraft. This resulting kinematic pattern strongly resembles the observations. Such a baroclinically-forced process is plausible in actual supercells, although it is uncertain whether it is ever sufficient for tornado formation, and to what extent the tilting of low-level quasi-streamwise vorticity plays a role.
59 citations
TL;DR: Doppler radar observations are utilized to describe the evolution of the severe thunderstorm updraft mesocyclone and its associated gust front as mentioned in this paper, and tornadoes form within the elliptical mesocyclonic circulation, apparently along the major axis.
Abstract: Doppler radar observations are utilized to describe the evolution of the severe thunderstorm updraft mesocyclone and its associated gust front. Tornadoes form within the elliptical mesocyclonic circulation, apparently along the major axis, and may denote a critical development stage.
52 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |