Cover Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Weather Review

  • Anderson, C. J., , and R. W. Arritt, 1998: Mesoscale convective complexes and persistent elongated convective systems over the United States during 1992 and 1993. Mon. Wea. Rev, 126 , 578–599.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Arritt, R. W., , T. D. Rink, , M. Segal, , D. P. Todey, , C. A. Clark, , M. J. Mitchell, , and K. M. Labas, 1997: The Great Plains low-level jet during the warm season of 1993. Mon. Wea. Rev, 125 , 2176–2192.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Augustine, J. A., 1985: An automated method for the documentation of cloud-top characteristics of mesoscale convective systems. NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL ESG-10, NOAA/FSL, Boulder, CO, 121 pp. [Available from NOAA/FSL, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303.].

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Augustine, J. A., , and K. W. Howard, 1988: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1985. Mon. Wea. Rev, 116 , 685–701.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Augustine, J. A., , and K. W. Howard, 1991: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1986 and 1987. Mon. Wea. Rev, 119 , 1575–1589.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Barnes, S. L., 1964: A technique for maximizing details in numerical weather maps. J. Appl. Meteor, 3 , 396–409.

  • Barnston, A. G., , A. Leetmaa, , V. E. Kousky, , R. E. Livezey, , E. A. O'Lenic, , H. Van den Dool, , A. J. Wagner, , and D. A. Unger, 1999: NCEP forecasts of the El Niño of 1997–98 and its U.S. impacts. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 80 , 1829–1852.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bartels, D. L., , J. M. Skradski, , and R. D. Menard, 1984: Mesoscale convective systems: A satellite data-based climatology. NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL ESG 8, 63 pp. [NTIS PB-85-187904.].

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bell, G. D., , and M. S. Halpert, 1998: Climate assessment for 1997. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 79 , (May), S. 1–S50.

  • Bell, G. D., , M. S. Halpert, , C. F. Ropelewski, , V. E. Kousky, , A. V. Douglas, , R. C. Schnell, , and M. E. Gelman, 1999: Climate assessment for 1998. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 80 , (May), S. 1–S48.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bunkers, M. J., , J. R. Miller Jr., , and A. T. DeGaetano, 1996: An examination of El Niño–La Niña-related precipitation and temperature anomalies across the northern plains. J. Climate, 9 , 147–160.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cotton, W. R., , M-S. Lin, , R. L. McAnnelly, , and C. J. Tremback, 1989: A composite model of mesoscale convective complexes. Mon. Wea. Rev, 117 , 765–783.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Daniel, C. J., , R. W. Arritt, , and C. J. Anderson, 1999: Accuracy of 404-MHz radar profilers for detection of low-level jets over the central United States. J. Appl. Meteor, 38 , 1391–1399.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fritsch, J. M., , R. J. Kane, , and C. R. Chelius, 1986: The contribution of mesoscale convective weather systems to the warm-season precipitation in the United States. J. Climate Appl. Meteor, 25 , 1333–1345.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Horel, J. D., , and J. M. Wallace, 1981: Planetary-scale atmospheric phenomena associated with the Southern Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev, 109 , 813–829.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kalnay, E., and Coauthors,. . 1996: The NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 77 , 437–471.

  • Kunkel, K. E., , S. A. Chagnon, , and J. R. Angel, 1994: Climatic aspects of the 1993 upper Mississippi River basin flood. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 75 , 811–822.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Laing, A. G., , and J. M. Fritsch, 1997: The global population of mesoscale convective complexes. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc, 123 , 389–405.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Maddox, R. A., 1980: Mesoscale convective complexes. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 61 , 1374–1387.

  • Maddox, R. A., 1983: Large-scale meteorological conditions associated with midlatitude, mesoscale convective complexes. Mon. Wea. Rev, 111 , 1475–1493.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McPhadden, M. J., , and X. Yu, 1999: Genesis and evolution of the 1997–98 El Nino. Science, 283 , 950–954.

  • Mitchell, M. J., , R. W. Arritt, , and K. Labas, 1995: A climatology of the warm season Great Plains low-level jet using wind profiler observations. Wea. Forecasting, 10 , 576–591.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mo, K. C., , J. N. Paegle, , and R. W. Higgins, 1997: Atmospheric processes associated with summer floods and droughts in the central United States. J. Climate, 10 , 3028–3046.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Montroy, D. L., 1997: Linear relation of central and eastern North American precipitation to tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies. J. Climate, 10 , 541–558.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rasmussen, E. M., , and K. Mo, 1993: Linkages between 200-mb tropical and extratropical circulation anomalies during the 1986–1989 ENSO cycle. J. Climate, 6 , 595–616.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rodgers, D. M., , K. W. Howard, , and E. C. Johnston, 1983: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1982. Mon. Wea. Rev, 111 , 2363–2369.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rodgers, D. M., , M. J. Magnano, , and J. H. Arns, 1985: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1983. Mon. Wea. Rev, 113 , 888–901.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ropelewski, C. F., , and M. S. Halpert, 1986: North American precipitation and temperature patterns associated with the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Mon. Wea. Rev, 114 , 2352–2362.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ropelewski, C. F., , and M. S. Halpert, 1987: Global and regional scale precipitation patterns associated with the El Nino/Southern Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev, 115 , 1606–1626.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ropelewski, C. F., , and M. S. Halpert, 1989: Precipitation patterns associated with the high index phase of the Southern Oscillation. J. Climate, 2 , 268–284.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ropelewski, C. F., , and M. S. Halpert, 1996: Quantifying Southern Oscillation–precipitation relationships. J. Climate, 9 , 1043–1059.

  • Sardeshmukh, P. D., , and B. J. Hoskins, 1988: The generation of global rotational flow by steady idealized tropical divergence. J. Atmos. Sci, 45 , 1228–1251.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Stensrud, D. J., 1996: Importance of low-level jets to climate: A review. J. Climate, 9 , 1698–1711.

  • Ting, M., , and H. Wang, 1997: Summertime U.S. precipitation variability and its relation to Pacific sea surface temperature. J. Climate, 10 , 1853–1873.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Trenberth, K. E., 1997: Short-term climate variations: Recent accomplishments and issues for future progress. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 78 , 1081–1096.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Velasco, I., , and J. M. Fritsch, 1987: Mesoscale convective complexes in the Americas. J. Geophys. Res, 92 , 9591–9613.

  • Wolter, K., , and M. S. Timlin, 1998: Measuring the strength of ENSO—How does 1997/98 rank? Weather, 53 , 315–324.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 13 13 3
PDF Downloads 6 6 1

Mesoscale Convective Systems over the United States during the 1997–98 El Niño

Christopher J. Anderson1 and Raymond W. Arritt1
View More View Less
  • 1 Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Print Publication:
01 Sep 2001
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2001)129<2443:MCSOTU>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
2443–2457
© Get Permissions
Restricted access

Abstract

Large, long-lived mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the United States during the 1997–98 El Niño are documented. Two periods of abnormal MCS activity are identified in 1998: from March to mid-April an unusually large number of quasi-linear MCSs were observed in the Midwest; while quasi-circular MCSs in June–August of 1998 were concentrated near 37°N rather than following a seasonal shift similar to that observed in the climatological distribution. Episodic surges of northerly low-level flow were infrequent in March 1998, thereby leading to an unusually high incidence of quasi-linear MCSs and to precipitation anomalies in the central United States.

Corresponding author address: Christopher J. Anderson, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, 3010 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1010. Email: candersn@iastate.edu

Abstract

Large, long-lived mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the United States during the 1997–98 El Niño are documented. Two periods of abnormal MCS activity are identified in 1998: from March to mid-April an unusually large number of quasi-linear MCSs were observed in the Midwest; while quasi-circular MCSs in June–August of 1998 were concentrated near 37°N rather than following a seasonal shift similar to that observed in the climatological distribution. Episodic surges of northerly low-level flow were infrequent in March 1998, thereby leading to an unusually high incidence of quasi-linear MCSs and to precipitation anomalies in the central United States.

Corresponding author address: Christopher J. Anderson, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, 3010 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1010. Email: candersn@iastate.edu

Save