Investigation of Interactions Among Terrain Drag, Ageostrophic Frontogenesis, Mesoscale Cyclogenesis and Drylines

地形对冬季风暴的影响已经被认识了几十年。研究表明，地形起伏对局地天气有重要影响，目前的数值模式往往不能准确预报受局地地形影响的极端天气现象。利用从两个已经完成的实地项目收集的数据（大西洋低气压起源实验和风暴尺度，业务和研究气象锋面实验，系统测试），主要研究人员将对沿东海岸和美国大陆的锋面和相关中尺度天气系统的结构和演变进行数值和观测研究。当天气尺度气流受到阿巴拉契亚山脉的阻碍时，将特别关注东海岸的中尺度快速锋生和随后的中尺度气旋形成。天气尺度流型和由此产生的中尺度天气之间尺度相互作用的记录将被强调。

The impact of orography on winter storms has been recognized for several decades. It has been established that terrain of significant relief impacts local weather and current numerical models often do not accurately forecast extreme weather phenomena that are influenced by the local terrain. Using data collected from two already completed field programs (Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment and the Stormscale, Operational and Research Meteorology-Fronts Experiment, Systems Test), the Principal Investigators will conduct numerical and observational studies of the structure and evolution of fronts and associated mesoscale weather systems along the East Coast and the continental United States. Particular attention will be paid to mesoscale rapid frontogenesis and subsequent mesoscale cyclogenesis over the East Coast when synoptic-scale flow is impeded by the Appalachian Mountains. Documentation of scale interactions between the synoptic-scale flow patterns and resulting mesoscale weather will be emphasized.