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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

Infrared Data for Storm Analysis

The papers in this section include: 1) 'Thunderstorm Top Structure Observed by Aircraft Overflights with an Infrared Radiometer'; 2) 'Thunderstorm Intensity as Determined from Satellite Data'; 3) 'Relation of Satellite-Based Thunderstorm Intensity to Radar-Estimated Rainfall'; 4) 'A Simple Physical Basis for Relating Geosynchronous Satellite Infrared Observations to Thunderstorm Rainfall'; 5) 'Satellite-Observed Cloud-Top Height Changes in Tornadic Thunderstorms'; 6) 'Predicting Tropical Cyclone Intensity Using Satellite-Measured Equivalent Blackbody Temperatures of Cloud Tops'.

Adler, R.↗

Case Study of a Low-Reflectivity Pulsating Microburst: Numerical Simulation of the Denver, 8 July 1989, Storm

On 8 July 1989, a very strong microburst was detected by the Low-Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS), within the approach corridor just north of Denver Stapleton Airport. The microburst was encountered by a Boeing 737-200 in a "go-around" configuration which was reported to have lost considerable air speed and altitude during penetration. Data from LLWAS revealed a pulsating microburst with an estimated peak velocity change of 48 m/s. Wilson et al. (1991) reported that the microburst was accompanied by no apparent visible clues such as rain or virga, although blowing dust was present. Weather service hourly reports indicated virga in all quadrants near the time of the event. A National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) research Doppler radar was operating; but according to Wilson et al., meaningful velocity could not be measured within the microburst due to low radar-reflectivity factor and poor siting for windshear detection at Stapleton.

Proctor, F. H.↗

Signatures in Lightning Activity during Tennessee Valley Severe Storms of 5-6 May 2003

During the first week of May 2003, the Tennessee Valley experienced 14 tornadoes. Those that moved across the Tennessee Valley Region of northern Alabama and southern Tennessee provided an opportunity for study us- ing the North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (LMA). On 5 May a classic supercell trekked across southern Tennessee spawning several tornadoes producing FO-F3 damage; on 6 May a high precipitation supercell moved across northern Alabama producing several FO-F1 tornadoes. The life cycle of these supercells will be discussed by presenting their electrical and radar evolution.

Gatlin, Patrick N.↗

Midweek Intensification of Rain in the U.S.: Does Air Pollution Invigorate Storms?

The effect of pollution on rainfall has been observed to depend both on the type of pollution and the precipitating environment. The climatological consequences of pollution for rainfall are uncertain. In some urban areas, pollution varies with the day of the week because of weekly variations in human activity, in effect providing a repeated experiment on the effects of pollution. Weekly variations in temperature, pressure, cloud characteristics, hails and lightning are observed in many areas. Observing a weekly cycle in rainfall statistics has proven to be more difficult, although there is some evidence for it. Here we examine rainfall statistics from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite over the southern U.S. and adjacent waters, and find that there is a distinct, statistically significant weekly cycle in summertime rainfall over the southeast U.S., as well as weekly variations in rainfall over the nearby Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Rainfall over land peaks in the middle of the week, suggesting that summer rainfall on large scales may increase as pollution levels rise. Both rain statistics over land and what appear to be compensating effects over adjacent seas support the suggestion that air pollution invigorates convection and outflow aloft.

Bell, T. L.↗

New Evidence for Equatorially Trapped Thermal Plasma During Early Post-Storm Recovery

Almost 20 years ago Olsen et al. [1987] reported Dynamics Explorer 1 Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer observations of equatorially trapped, cold ions in the vicinity of the plasmapause. In that study the trapped population corresponded to a local minimum in density at the magnetic equator. During that time period observations were uncovered of a local maximum in plasma density at the equator. Until IMAGE there has been no good opportunity to experimentally revisit this topic, however until now no direct evidence of a relevant equatorial process has been recognized near the plasmapause during early recovery conditions. It appears that evidence has now been found in both the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager and Radio Plasma Imager observations. The observations, conditions, and properties of what appears to be an equatorially trapped and enhanced density near the magnetic equator will be presented and discussed.

Gallagher, D. L.↗

Strong Pitch-Angle Diffusion of Ring Current Ions in Geomagnetic Storm-Associated Conditions

Do electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves cause strong pitch-angle diffusion of RC ions? This question is the primary motivation of this paper and has been affirmatively answered from the theoretical point of view. The materials that are presented in the Results section show clear evidence that strong pitch-angle diffusion takes place in the inner magnetosphere indicating an important role for the wave-particle interaction mechanism in the formation of RC ions and EMIC waves.

Khazanov, G. V.↗

"Weekend-effect" evidence for intensification of storms by pollution over U.S.

Aerosols change the way precipitating clouds evolve, due to their effect on condensation and ice formation. The net effect of aerosols on precipitation varies depending on the local environment and synoptic situation, the types of aerosols, and also on how far downstream one looks for effects. Repeated experiments with controlled release of aerosols would be helpful in unraveling how aerosols affect precipitation. The weekly variation in human activity may provide just such a set of experiments. Using the rainfall estimates from the passive microwave instrument on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), which has been orbiting for over eight years and can view areas as far north as about 40 degs, we find that there is indeed a weekly variation in summer (JJA) rainfall over the southeastern U.S. land area, with the average rain rate peaking in the middle of the week (Tue-Thu). Rainfall over nearby oceanic areas, on the other hand, seems to peak on weekends. A bootstrap statistical test indicates that the variations are unlikely to be due to chance. Physically related weekly variations in the statistics of ground-based measurements and model reanalysis data are found. The midweek peak in rainfall over land coincides with the well documented midweek peak in pollution around much of the U.S., and is unlikely to be due to other weekly variations in human influence. The midweek increase is also unlikely to be a consequence of the radiative heating or cooling of the atmosphere by the aerosols.

Bell, T. L.↗

Magnetic Storms and Associated Interplanetary Phenomena

The physical mechanism for energy transfer from the solar wind to the magnetosphere is magnetic reconnection between the interplanetary field and the Earth's field. From Intro: It is the purpose of this paper to review the sources of such interplanetary magnetic fields distinguishing between the solar maximum and the declining phases of the solar cycle.

solar wind magnetosphere solar energy transfer cor↗