The mesoscale and microscale structure and organization of clouds and precipitation in midlatitude cyclones. III - Air-motions and precipitation growth in a warm-frontal rainband
Abstract
Doppler radar data and airborne cloud microphysical measurements obtained in the CYCLES Project indicate that a warm-frontal rainband in an extratropical cyclone was characterized by a precipitation process in which clouds at low levels were enhanced by a mesoscale updraft. Ice particles, apparently formed in shallow convective cells aloft, then drifted downward, undergoing aggregation just above the melting layer. This study demonstrates the crucial role of the low-level mesoscale updraft in condensing a sufficient amount of cloud water for particles to accrete as they fell through the lower portion of the frontal cloud.
- Publication:
-
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
- Pub Date:
- March 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981JAtS...38..638H
- Keywords:
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- Clouds (Meteorology);
- Cyclones;
- Mesoscale Phenomena;
- Precipitation (Meteorology);
- Vertical Air Currents;
- Warm Fronts;
- Convection Currents;
- Doppler Radar;
- Ice Formation;
- Micrometeorology