The Impact of Stable Layers on Downdrafts in Tropical Deep Convection
Previous studies have demonstrated that one pathway by which dry air can interrupt tropical cyclone intensification is by inducing downdrafts that flood the surface inflow layer with low entropy air. While work has been performed examining the relationship between dry air and downdraft intensity, very little has been done to investigate the potential for features of the convective environment, such as stable layers, to inhibit the downward progression of downdrafts. This study aims to understand the role that stable layers have on inhibiting the downward progression of downdrafts and their associated low entropy air in the context of tropical deep convection. Specifically, this study asks two key questions: can a stable layer halt the downward progression of a downdraft or merely slow its velocity and can a stable layer stop the injection of low entropy air into the boundary layer? The present study aims to answer these questions using a combination of high-altitude airborne radar and dropsonde observations, both collected within four tropical cyclones (Gaston, Hermine, Karl, and Matthew) during the 2016 NOAA SHOUT field campaign, as well as idealized simulations of tropical deep convection. Preliminary results suggest that precipitation-free downdrafts can be blocked by a stable layer while precipitation-laden downdrafts are weakened, but not stopped, by the presence of a stable layer. This presentation will primarily focus on the precipitation-laden downdrafts that can be observed via airborne radar. Additionally, the presentation will conclude with a brief discussion of the implications of downdraft/stable-layer interactions for a tropical cyclone ingesting dry environmental air.