Radar-derived statistics of convective storms in southeast Queensland
Article
Article Title | Radar-derived statistics of convective storms in southeast Queensland |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 1973 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Peter, Justin R. (Author), Manton, Michael J. (Author), Potts, Rodney J. (Author), May, Peter T. (Author), Collis, Scott M. (Author) and Wilson, Louise (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology |
Journal Citation | 54 (10), pp. 1985-2008 |
Number of Pages | 24 |
Year | 2015 |
Publisher | American Meteorological Society |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 1558-8424 |
1558-8432 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0347.1 |
Web Address (URL) | http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0347.1 |
Abstract | The aim of this study is to examine the statistics of convective storms and their concomitant changes with thermodynamic variability. The thermodynamic variability is analyzed by performing a cluster analysis on variables derived from radiosonde releases at Brisbane Airport in Australia. Three objectively defined regimes are found: a dry, stable regime with mainly westerly surface winds, a moist northerly regime, and a moist trade wind regime. S-band radar data are analyzed and storms are identified using objective tracking software [Thunderstorm Identification, Tracking, Analysis, and Nowcasting (TITAN)]. Storm statistics are then investigated, stratified by the regime subperiods. Convective storms are found to form and maintain along elevated topography. Probability distributions of convective storm size and rain rate are found to follow lognormal distributions with differing mean and variance among the regimes. There was some evidence of trimodal storm-top heights, located at the trade inversion (1.5–2 km), freezing level (3.6–4 km), and near 6 km, but it was dependent on the presence of the trade inversion. On average, storm volume and height are smallest in the trade regime and rain rate is largest in the westerly regime. However, westerly regime storms occur less frequently and have shorter lifetimes, which were attributed to the enhanced stability and decreased humidity profiles. Furthermore, time series of diurnal rain rate exhibited early morning and midafternoon maxima for the northerly and trade regimes but were absent for the westerly regime. The observations indicate that westerly regime storms are primarily driven by large-scale forcing, whereas northerly and trade wind regime storms are more responsive to surface characteristics. |
Keywords | Australia; climatology; convective storms; thermodynamics; radars/radar observations |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370199. Atmospheric sciences not elsewhere classified |
370108. Meteorology | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | International Centre for Applied Climate Science |
Monash University | |
Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Australia | |
Collaboration for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Australia | |
Argonne National Laboratory, United States | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Funding source | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3y9x/radar-derived-statistics-of-convective-storms-in-southeast-queensland
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