Article Type:
Research Article

Observations of Nontornadic Low-Level Mesocyclones and Attendant Tornadogenesis Failure during VORTEX

R. J. Trapp NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, and Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Print Publication:
01 Jul 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<1693:OONLLM>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
1693–1705
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Abstract

Three storms intercepted during the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment generated a moderate-to-strong mesocyclone within the lowest several hundred meters above the ground and qualitatively appeared capable of tornadogenesis, yet did not produce a tornado. Such novel observations of what is considered“tornadogenesis failure” are documented and used to show the insufficiency of a low-level mesocyclone for tornadogenesis. Possible modes of failure are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Dr. R. Jeffrey Trapp, NSSL, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069.

Email: trapp@nssl.noaa.gov

Abstract

Three storms intercepted during the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment generated a moderate-to-strong mesocyclone within the lowest several hundred meters above the ground and qualitatively appeared capable of tornadogenesis, yet did not produce a tornado. Such novel observations of what is considered“tornadogenesis failure” are documented and used to show the insufficiency of a low-level mesocyclone for tornadogenesis. Possible modes of failure are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Dr. R. Jeffrey Trapp, NSSL, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069.

Email: trapp@nssl.noaa.gov

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