Circling in on Convective Organization

Jan Olaf Mirko Härter; Steven J. Böing; Olga Cassandra Henneberg; Silas Boye Nissen

doi:10.1029/2019GL082092

Circling in on Convective Organization

Jan Olaf Mirko Härter, Steven J. Böing, Olga Cassandra Henneberg, Silas Boye Nissen

Biocomplexity

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cold pools (CPs) contribute to convective organization. However, it is unclear by which mechanisms organization occurs. By using a particle method to track CP gust fronts in large eddy simulations, we characterize the basic collision modes between CPs. Our results show that CP interactions, where three expanding gust fronts force an updraft, are key at triggering new convection. Using this, we conceptualize CP dynamics into a parameter-free mathematical model: circles expand from initially random points in space. Where two expanding circles collide, a stationary front is formed. However, where three expanding circles enclose a single point, a new expanding circle is seeded. This simple model supports three fundamental features of CP dynamics: precipitation cells constitute a spatially interacting system, CPs come in generations, and scales steadily increase throughout the diurnal cycle. Finally, this model provides a framework for how CPs act to cause convective self-organization, clustering, and extremes.

Original language	English
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	46
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0094-8276
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082092
Publication status	Published - 28 Jun 2019

Access to Document

10.1029/2019GL082092

cold pool, self-organization, convection, extreme precipitation, diurnal cycle, gust front, large eddy simulation, conceptual modelFinal published version, 4.5 MB

Cite this

@article{068f0286bf8f4232a1aeb32634b9285c,

title = "Circling in on Convective Organization",

abstract = "Cold pools (CPs) contribute to convective organization. However, it is unclear by which mechanisms organization occurs. By using a particle method to track CP gust fronts in large eddy simulations, we characterize the basic collision modes between CPs. Our results show that CP interactions, where three expanding gust fronts force an updraft, are key at triggering new convection. Using this, we conceptualize CP dynamics into a parameter-free mathematical model: circles expand from initially random points in space. Where two expanding circles collide, a stationary front is formed. However, where three expanding circles enclose a single point, a new expanding circle is seeded. This simple model supports three fundamental features of CP dynamics: precipitation cells constitute a spatially interacting system, CPs come in generations, and scales steadily increase throughout the diurnal cycle. Finally, this model provides a framework for how CPs act to cause convective self-organization, clustering, and extremes.",

author = "H{\"a}rter, {Jan Olaf Mirko} and B{\"o}ing, {Steven J.} and Henneberg, {Olga Cassandra} and Nissen, {Silas Boye}",

year = "2019",

month = jun,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1029/2019GL082092",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

pages = "1--11",

journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

issn = "0094-8276",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Circling in on Convective Organization

AU - Härter, Jan Olaf Mirko

AU - Böing, Steven J.

AU - Henneberg, Olga Cassandra

AU - Nissen, Silas Boye

PY - 2019/6/28

Y1 - 2019/6/28

N2 - Cold pools (CPs) contribute to convective organization. However, it is unclear by which mechanisms organization occurs. By using a particle method to track CP gust fronts in large eddy simulations, we characterize the basic collision modes between CPs. Our results show that CP interactions, where three expanding gust fronts force an updraft, are key at triggering new convection. Using this, we conceptualize CP dynamics into a parameter-free mathematical model: circles expand from initially random points in space. Where two expanding circles collide, a stationary front is formed. However, where three expanding circles enclose a single point, a new expanding circle is seeded. This simple model supports three fundamental features of CP dynamics: precipitation cells constitute a spatially interacting system, CPs come in generations, and scales steadily increase throughout the diurnal cycle. Finally, this model provides a framework for how CPs act to cause convective self-organization, clustering, and extremes.

AB - Cold pools (CPs) contribute to convective organization. However, it is unclear by which mechanisms organization occurs. By using a particle method to track CP gust fronts in large eddy simulations, we characterize the basic collision modes between CPs. Our results show that CP interactions, where three expanding gust fronts force an updraft, are key at triggering new convection. Using this, we conceptualize CP dynamics into a parameter-free mathematical model: circles expand from initially random points in space. Where two expanding circles collide, a stationary front is formed. However, where three expanding circles enclose a single point, a new expanding circle is seeded. This simple model supports three fundamental features of CP dynamics: precipitation cells constitute a spatially interacting system, CPs come in generations, and scales steadily increase throughout the diurnal cycle. Finally, this model provides a framework for how CPs act to cause convective self-organization, clustering, and extremes.

U2 - 10.1029/2019GL082092

DO - 10.1029/2019GL082092

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0094-8276

VL - 46

SP - 1

EP - 11

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

ER -

Circling in on Convective Organization

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this