Localized vorticity enhancement through superhelical coherent structure\n in observed tornadic supercells

2014/08/19 by Marcus L. Büker, Büker, Marcus, Luke E. Odell +8
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research #Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1408.4366

Abstract

New diagnostic methods are presented for localized, barotropic vorticity\nevolution in tornadic environments. These methods focus on superhelicity, a\nquantity shown to be strongly related to local maxima in vorticity tendency.\nMobile Doppler radar retrievals from three well-known cases of tornadogenesis\nwere studied with this new approach. The results show promise for detecting and\ntracking coherent dynamical features known to be related to tornadogenesis, as\nwell as detecting signals of imminent tornadogenesis at an earlier stage than\nvorticity tendency analysis. Furthermore, these methods may provide physical\ninsight into vortex-vortex interactions and vortex modes in the vicinity of the\nmesocyclone.\n

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