Mesoscale Influences on the Initiation and Development of Clouds and Precipitation

了解对流天气发生的地点和时间的原因是一个基础性的研究问题，对天气预报具有重要意义。中尺度大气边界辐合和地形效应是对流云形成和发展以及决定降水分布的主要机制。来自最近实地研究实验的数据的可用性和数值计算机模型能力的进步为推进这些过程的知识提供了机会。首席研究员将使用从最近的实地项目中收集的数据来初始化和验证一个先进的大气数值模型。他将研究导致对流风暴沿大气边界发展的物理过程的贡献、相互作用和敏感性。他还将研究地形对云和降水的发展和组织的影响。

Understanding the reasons for the location and timing of the onset of convective weather is a fundamental research question and important to the forecasting of weather. Convergence along mesoscale atmospheric boundaries and topographic effects are primary mechanisms for convective cloud initiation and development and in determining the distribution of precipitation. The availability of data from recent field research experiments and advances in numerical computer model capabilities provide an opportunity to advance knowledge of these processes. The Principal Investigator will use data collected from recent field programs to initialize and verify an advanced atmospheric numerical model. He will examine the contributions, interactions and sensitivities of the physical processes leading to convective storm development along atmospheric boundaries. He also will examine the influence of topography on the development and organization of clouds and precipitation.