Investigation of the Evolution of Mesoscale Systems and Processes Associated with East Coast Cyclones during GALE

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The rapid development and intensification of winter cyclones in coastal regions presents a major weather forecasting problem. Along the East Coast of the United States, the development of cyclonic storms and frontal systems often occurs along the coastal region of the Carolinas. These weather systems may lead to severe weather in the heavily populated northeast corridor in the form of freezing rain, heavy snowfall, blizzards and extensive coastal erosion. A complex interaction of cold continental air, warm ocean currents, traveling atmospheric disturbances and local geography all appear to contribute to the rapid development of these systems; however, the processes are not well understood and the phenomena are often poorly forecast. In January-March 1986 a cooperative research project to study winter storms in this region was held by a consortium of universities and Federal agencies. Entitled GALE (Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment), the project was designed to provide detailed information on the role of air- sea interaction, planetary boundary-layer processes and mesoscale meteorological processes. The Principal Investigator intends to investigate the evolution of mesoscale precipitation distribution associated with evolving east-coast cyclones by: (1) investigating the influence of the three-dimensional kinematics and topography on the evolution of the precipitation patterns; (2) discerning the dynamic factors that control the location and evolution of the boundary between rain-snow areas; (3) discerning the influence of gravity-wave activity on the precipitation distribution.