Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The Garden City, Kansas, Storm during VORTEX 95. Part I: Overview of the Storm’s Life Cycle and Mesocyclogenesis

Roger M. Wakimoto Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

Search for other papers by Roger M. Wakimoto in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Chinghwang Liu Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

Search for other papers by Chinghwang Liu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Huaqing Cai Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

Search for other papers by Huaqing Cai in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Feb 1998
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1998)126<0372:TGCKSD>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
372–392
Restricted access

Abstract

Analysis of a supercell storm that produced an F1 tornado near Garden City, Kansas, is presented. This event provided one of the first opportunities to synthesize data collected by a new airborne radar platform called ELDORA (Electra Doppler radar) developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The early stages of development of the midlevel mesocyclone and the entire evolution of the low-level mesocyclone are captured over a 70-min period. The low-level mesocyclone began as an incipient shallow circulation along a synoptic-scale trough. The circulation intensified and grew in depth via vortex stretching under the influence of a strong updraft. As this rotation built up from the boundary layer, it initially remained separate and distinct from the midlevel mesocyclone. Subsequently, the two mesocyclones merge to produce a single column of rotation 4–5 km in diameter. An occlusion downdraft develops within the mesocyclone circulation during the last passes by the storm signaling the beginning of the tornadic phase. Perturbation pressure retrievals provide conclusive evidence that this downdraft is driven by a downward-directed pressure gradient force.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Roger M. Wakimoto, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-1565.

Abstract

Analysis of a supercell storm that produced an F1 tornado near Garden City, Kansas, is presented. This event provided one of the first opportunities to synthesize data collected by a new airborne radar platform called ELDORA (Electra Doppler radar) developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The early stages of development of the midlevel mesocyclone and the entire evolution of the low-level mesocyclone are captured over a 70-min period. The low-level mesocyclone began as an incipient shallow circulation along a synoptic-scale trough. The circulation intensified and grew in depth via vortex stretching under the influence of a strong updraft. As this rotation built up from the boundary layer, it initially remained separate and distinct from the midlevel mesocyclone. Subsequently, the two mesocyclones merge to produce a single column of rotation 4–5 km in diameter. An occlusion downdraft develops within the mesocyclone circulation during the last passes by the storm signaling the beginning of the tornadic phase. Perturbation pressure retrievals provide conclusive evidence that this downdraft is driven by a downward-directed pressure gradient force.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Roger M. Wakimoto, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-1565.

Save
Cover Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Weather Review

  • Atkins, N. T., R. M. Wakimoto, and T. M. Weckwerth, 1995: Observations of the sea-breeze front during CaPE. Part II: Dual-Doppler and aircraft analysis. Mon. Wea. Rev.,123, 944–969.

  • Barnes, S. L., 1978: Oklahoma thunderstorms on 29–30 April 1970. Part I: Morphology of a tornadic storm. Mon. Wea. Rev.,106, 673–684.

  • Bluestein, H. B., 1983: Surface meteorological observations in severe thunderstorms. Part II: Field experiments with TOTO. J. Climate Appl. Meteor.,22, 919–930.

  • ——, and W. P. Unruh, 1989: Observations of the wind field in tornadoes, funnel clouds, and wall clouds with a portable Doppler radar. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,70, 1514–1525.

  • ——, A. L. Pazmany, J. C. Galloway, and R. E. McIntosh, 1995: Studies of the substructure of severe convective storms using a mobile 3-mm wavelength Doppler radar. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,76, 2155–2169.

  • Brady, R. H., and E. Szoke, 1989: A case study of nonmesocyclone tornado development in northeast Colorado: Similarities to waterspout formation. Mon. Wea. Rev.,117, 843–856.

  • Brandes, E. A., 1978: Mesocyclone evolution and tornadogenesis: Some observations. Mon. Wea. Rev.,106, 995–1011.

  • ——, 1981: Finestructure of the Del City–Edmond tornadic mesocirculation. Mon. Wea. Rev.,109, 635–647.

  • ——, 1984a: Vertical vorticity generation and mesocyclone sustenance in tornadic thunderstorms: The observational evidence. Mon. Wea. Rev.,112, 2253–2269.

  • ——, 1984b: Relationship between radar-derived thermodynamic variables and tornadogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev.,112, 1033–1052.

  • ——, 1993: Tornadic thunderstorm characteristics determined with Doppler radar. The Tornado: Its Structure, Dynamics, Prediction and Hazards, Geophys. Monogr., No. 79, Amer. Geophys. Union, 143–159.

  • ——, R. P. Davies-Jones, and B. C. Johnson, 1988: Streamwise vorticity effects on supercell morphology and persistence. J. Atmos. Sci.,45, 947–953.

  • Brock, F. D., K. C. Crawford, R. L. Elliott, G. W. Cuperus, S. J. Stadler, H. L. Johnson, and M. D. Eilts, 1995: The Oklahoma mesonet: A technical overview. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,11, 5–19.

  • Brooks, H. E., C. A. Doswell III, and R. Davies-Jones, 1993: Environmental helicity and the maintenance and evolution of low-level mesocyclones. The Tornado: Its Structure, Dynamics, Prediction and Hazards, Geophys. Monogr., No. 79, Amer. Geophys. Union, 97–105.

  • ——, ——, and J. Cooper, 1994a: On the environments of tornadic and nontornadic mesocyclones. Wea. Forecasting,9, 606–618.

  • ——, C. A. Doswell III, and R. B. Wilhelmson, 1994b: The role of midtropospheric winds in the evolution and maintenance of low-level mesocyclones. Mon. Wea. Rev.,122, 126–136.

  • Brown, R. A., L. R. Lemon, and D. W. Burgess, 1978: Tornado detection by pulsed Doppler radar. Mon. Wea. Rev.,106, 29–38.

  • Browning, K. A., 1964: Airflow and precipitation trajectories within severe local storms which travel to the right of the winds. J. Atmos. Sci.,21, 634–639.

  • ——, and F. H. Ludlam, 1962: Airflow in convective storms. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,88, 117–135.

  • ——, and R. J. Donaldson Jr., 1963: Airflow and structure of a tornadic storm. J. Atmos. Sci.,20, 117–135.

  • Burgess, D. W., and L. R. Lemon, 1990: Severe thunderstorm detection by radar. Radar in Meteorology, D. Atlas, Ed., Amer. Meteor. Soc., 619–647.

  • ——, R. J. Donaldson Jr., and P. R. Desrochers, 1993: Tornado detection and warning by radar. The Tornado: Its Structure, Dynamics, Prediction and Hazards, Geophys. Monogr., No. 79, Amer. Geophys. Union, 203–221.

  • Carbone, R. E., 1983: A severe frontal rainband. Part II: Tornado parent vortex circulation. Mon. Wea. Rev.,111, 2639–2654.

  • ——, M. J. Carpenter, and C. D. Burghart, 1985: Doppler radar sampling limitations in convective storms. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,2, 357–361.

  • Charba, J., and Y. Sasaki, 1971: Structure and movement of the severe thunderstorms of 3 April 1964 as revealed from radar and surface mesonetwork data analysis. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan,49, 191–213.

  • Cressman, G. P., 1959: An operational objective analysis scheme. Mon. Wea. Rev.,87, 367–374.

  • Davies-Jones, R. P., and E. Kessler, 1974: Tornadoes. Weather and Climate Modification, W. Hess, Ed., Wiley, 552–595.

  • ——, and H. E. Brooks, 1993: Mesocyclogenesis from a theoretical perspective. The Tornado: Its Structure, Dynamics, Prediction and Hazards, Geophys. Monogr., No. 79, Amer. Geophys. Union, 557–571.

  • ——, D. Burgess, and M. Foster, 1990: Test of helicity as a tornado forecast parameter. Preprints, 16th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Kananaskis Park, AB, Canada, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 588–592.

  • Doviak, R. J., and D. S. Zrnić, 1993: Doppler Radar and Weather Observations. 2d ed. Academic Press, 562 pp.

  • ——, P. S. Ray, R. G. Strauch, and L. J. Miller, 1976: Error estimation in wind fields derived from dual-Doppler radar measurement. J. Appl. Meteor.,15, 868–878.

  • Droegemeier, K. K., and R. B. Wilhelmson, 1987: Numerical simulation of thunderstorm outflow dynamics. Part I: Outflow sensitivity experiments and turbulence dynamics. J. Atmos. Sci.,44, 1180–1210.

  • Foote, G. B., and P. S. du Toit, 1969: Terminal velocity of raindrops aloft. J. Appl. Meteor.,8, 249–253.

  • Forbes, G. S., 1981: On the reliability of hook echoes as tornado indicators. Mon. Wea. Rev.,109, 1457–1466.

  • Fujita, T. T., 1958: Mesoanalysis of the Illinois tornadoes of 9 April 1953. J. Meteor.,15, 288–296.

  • ——, 1965: Formation and steering mechanisms of tornado cyclones and associated hook echoes. Mon. Wea. Rev.,93, 67–78.

  • ——, 1981: Tornadoes and downbursts in the context of generalized planetary scales. J. Atmos. Sci.,38, 1511–1534.

  • Gal-Chen, T., 1978: A method for the initialization of the anelastic equations: Implications for matching models with observations. Mon. Wea. Rev.,106, 587–606.

  • ——, and R. A. Kropfli, 1984: Buoyancy and pressure perturbations derived from dual-Doppler radar observations of the planetary boundary layer: Applications for matching models with observations. J. Atmos. Sci.,41, 3007–3020.

  • Hane, C. E., and P. S. Ray, 1984: Pressure and buoyancy fields derived from Doppler radar data in a tornadic thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci.,42, 18–35.

  • Heymsfield, G. M., 1978: Kinematic and dynamic aspects of the Harrah tornadic storm analyzed from dual-Doppler radar data. Mon. Wea. Rev.,106, 233–254.

  • Hildebrand, P. H., and C. K. Mueller, 1985: Evaluation of meteorological airborne radar. Part I: Dual-Doppler analysis of air motions. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,2, 363–380.

  • ——, C. A. Walther, C. L. Frush, J. Testud, and F. Baudin, 1994: The ELDORA/ASTRAIA airborne Doppler weather radar: Goals, design, and first field tests. Proc. IEEE,82, 1873–1890.

  • ——, and Coauthors, 1996: The ELDORA/ASTRAIA airborne Doppler weather radar: High resolution observations from TOGA COARE. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,76, 213–232.

  • Hoskins, B. J., M. E. McIntyre, and A. W. Robertson, 1985: On the use and significance of isentropic potential vorticity maps. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,111, 877–946.

  • Johnson, K. W., P. S. Ray, B. C. Johnson, and R. P. Davies-Jones, 1987: Observations related to the rotational dynamics of the 20 May 1977 tornadic storms. Mon. Wea. Rev.,115, 2463–2478.

  • Jorgensen, D. P., 1984: Mesoscale and convective-scale characteristics of mature hurricanes. Part I: General observations by research aircraft. J. Atmos. Sci.,41, 1268–1285.

  • Joss, J., and D. Waldvogel, 1970: Raindrop size distribution and Doppler velocities. Preprints, 14th Conf. on Radar Meteor., Tucson, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 153–156.

  • Klazura, G. E., and D. A. Imy, 1993: A description of the initial set of analysis products available from the NEXRAD WSR-88D system. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,74, 1293–1311.

  • Klemp, J. B., 1987: Dynamics of tornadic thunderstorms. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech.,19, 369–402.

  • ——, and R. B. Wilhelmson, 1978: Simulations of right- and left-moving storms produced through storm splitting. J. Atmos. Sci.,35, 1097–1110.

  • ——, and R. Rotunno, 1983: A study of the tornadic region within a supercell thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci.,40, 359–377.

  • ——, R. B. Wilhelmson, and P. S. Ray, 1981: Observed and numerically simulated structure of a mature supercell thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci.,38, 1558–1580.

  • Lee, B. D., and R. B. Wilhelmson, 1997: The numerical simulation of non-supercell tornadogenesis. Part II: Evolution of a family of tornadoes along a weak outflow boundary. J. Atmos. Sci.,54, 2387–2415.

  • Leise, J. A., 1982: A multidimensional scale-telescoped filter and data extension package. NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL WPL-82, 19 pp. [Available from NOAA ERL, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303.].

  • Lemon, L. R., and C. A. Doswell III, 1979: Severe thunderstorm evolution and mesocyclone structure as related to tornadogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev.,107, 1184–1197.

  • Mahoney, W. P., 1988: Gust front characteristics and the kinematics associated with interacting thunderstorm outflows. Mon. Wea. Rev.,116, 1474–1491.

  • Marks, F. D., and R. A. Houze, 1984: Airborne Doppler radar observations of Hurricane Debby. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,65, 569–582.

  • ——, ——, and J. F. Gamache, 1992: Dual-aircraft investigation of the inner core of Hurricane Norbert. Part I: Kinematic structure. J. Atmos. Sci.,49, 919–942.

  • Miller, R. C., 1967: Notes on analysis and severe-storm forecasting procedures of the Military Weather Warning Center. Tech. Rep. 200, U.S. Air Force Air Weather Service, 170 pp.

  • Mohr, C. G., L. J. Miller, R. L. Vaughn, and H. W. Frank, 1986: The merger of mesoscale datasets into a common Cartesian format for efficient and systematic analyses. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,3, 143–161.

  • Moller, A. R., C. A. Doswell III, M. P. Foster, and G. R. Woodall, 1994: The operational recognition of supercell thunderstorm environments and storm structures. Wea. Forecasting,9, 327–347.

  • Oye, R., C. Mueller, and S. Smith, 1995: Software for radar translation, visualization, editing, and interpolation. Preprints, 27th Conf. on Radar Meteor., Vail, CO, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 359–361.

  • Rasmussen, E. N., J. M. Straka, R. Davies-Jones, C. A. Doswell III, F. H. Carr, M. D. Eilts, and D. R. MacGorman, 1994: Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment: VORTEX. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,75, 995–1006.

  • Ray, P. S., 1976: Vorticity and divergence fields within tornadic storms from dual-Doppler observations. J. Appl. Meteor.,15, 879–890.

  • ——, B. C. Johnson, K. W. Johnson, J. S. Bradberry, J. J. Stephens, K. K. Wagner, R. B. Wilhelmson, and J. B. Klemp, 1981: The morphology of several tornadic storms on 20 May 1977. J. Atmos. Sci.,38, 1643–1663.

  • ——, D. P. Jorgensen, and S. Wang, 1985: Airborne Doppler radar observations of a convective storm. J. Climate Appl. Meteor.,24, 687–698.

  • Roberts, R. D., and J. W. Wilson, 1995: The genesis of three nonsupercell tornadoes observed with dual-Doppler radar. Mon. Wea. Rev.,123, 3408–3436.

  • Rotunno, R., 1981: On the evolution of thunderstorm rotation. Mon. Wea. Rev.,109, 577–586.

  • ——, 1986: Tornadoes and tornadogenesis. Mesoscale Meteorology and Forecasting, P. S. Ray, Ed., Amer. Meteor. Soc., 414–436.

  • ——, and J. B. Klemp, 1982: The influence of the shear-induced pressure gradient on thunderstorm motion. Mon. Wea. Rev.,110, 136–151.

  • ——, and ——, 1985: On the rotation and propagation of simulated supercell thunderstorms. J. Atmos. Sci.,42, 271–292.

  • Roux, F., 1985: Retrieval of thermodynamic fields from multiple-Doppler radar data using the equations of motion and the thermodynamic equation. Mon. Wea. Rev.,113, 2142–2157.

  • ——, 1988: The west African squall line observed on 23 June 1981 during COPT 81: Kinematics and thermodynamics of the convective region. J. Atmos. Sci.,45, 406–426.

  • ——, and J. Sun, 1990: Single-Doppler observations of a west African squall line on 27–28 May 1981 during COPT 81: Kinematics, thermodynamics and water budget. Mon. Wea. Rev.,118, 1826–1854.

  • ——, V. Marécal, and D. Hauser, 1993: The 12/13 January 1988 narrow cold-frontal rainband observed during MFDP/FRONTS 87. Part I: Kinematics and thermodynamics. J. Atmos. Sci.,50, 951–974.

  • Schaefer, J. T., 1986: Severe thunderstorm forecasting: A historical perspective. Wea. Forecasting,1, 164–189.

  • Stout, G. E., and F. A. Huff, 1953: Radar records Illinois tornadogenesis. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,34, 281–284.

  • Straka, J. M., E. N. Rasmussen, and S. E. Fredrickson, 1996: A mobile mesonet for finescale meteorological observations. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,13, 921–936.

  • Vasiloff, S. V., 1993: Single-Doppler radar study of a variety of tornado types. The Tornado: Its Structure, Dynamics, Prediction and Hazards, Geophys. Monogr., No. 79, Amer. Geophys. Union, 223–231.

  • Wakimoto, R. M., and J. W. Wilson, 1989: Non-supercell tornadoes. Mon. Wea. Rev.,117, 1113–1140.

  • ——, and N. T. Atkins, 1996: Observations on the origins of rotation:The Newcastle tornado during VORTEX 94. Mon. Wea. Rev.,124, 384–407.

  • ——, and C. Liu, 1998: The Garden City, Kansas, storm during VORTEX 95. Part II: The wall cloud and tornado. Mon. Wea. Rev,126, 393–408.

  • ——, W. Blier, and C.-H. Liu, 1992: The frontal structure of an explosive oceanic cyclone: Airborne radar observations of ERICA IOP 4. Mon. Wea. Rev.,120, 1135–1155.

  • ——, N. T. Atkins, and C. H. Liu, 1995: Observations of the early evolution of an explosive oceanic cyclone during ERICA IOP 5. Part II: Airborne Doppler analysis of the mesoscale circulation and frontal structure. Mon. Wea. Rev.,123, 1311–1327.

  • ——, W.-C. Lee, H. B. Bluestein, C.-H. Liu, and P. H. Hildebrand, 1996: ELDORA observations during VORTEX 95. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,77, 1465–1481.

  • Webster, P. J., and R. Lukas, 1992: TOGA COARE: The TOGA Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,73, 1377–1416.

  • Wicker, L. J., and R. B. Wilhelmson, 1995: Simulation and analysis of tornado development and decay within a three-dimensional supercell thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci.,52, 2675–2703.

  • Wilson, J. W., and W. E. Schreiber, 1986: Initiation of convective storms by radar-observed boundary layer convergence lines. Mon. Wea. Rev.,114, 2516–2536.

  • ——, G. B. Foote, N. A. Crook, J. C. Fankhauser, C. G. Wade, J. D. Tuttle, C. K. Mueller, and S. K. Krueger, 1992: The role of boundary-layer convergence zones and horizontal rolls in the initiation of thunderstorms: A case study. Mon. Wea. Rev.,120, 1785–1815.

  • ——, T. M. Weckwerth, J. Vivekanandan, R. M. Wakimoto, and R. W. Russell, 1994: Boundary layer clear-air radar echoes: Origin of echoes and accuracy of derived winds. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,11, 1184–1206.

  • Wurman, J., J. Straka, and E. Rasmussen, 1996: Preliminary radar observations of the structure of tornadoes. Preprints, 18th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, San Francisco, CA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 17–22.

  • Zrnić, D., D. W. Burgess, and L. Hennington, 1985: Doppler spectra and estimated windspeed of a violent tornado. J. Climate Appl. Meteor.,24, 1068–1081.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 1329 737 43
PDF Downloads 385 90 2