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Article
Article Type:
Research Article

A Five-Year Radar-Based Climatology of Tropopause Folds and Deep Convection over Wales, United Kingdom

Bogdan Antonescu Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

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Geraint Vaughan Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

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David M. Schultz Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

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Print Publication:
01 May 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-12-00246.1
Page(s):
1693–1707
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Abstract

A five-year (2006–10) radar-based climatology of tropopause folds and convective storms was constructed for Wales, United Kingdom, to determine how deep, moist convection is modulated by tropopause folds. Based on the continuous, high-resolution data from a very high frequency (VHF) wind-profiling radar located at Capel Dewi, Wales, 183 tropopause folds were identified. Tropopause folds were most frequent in January with a secondary maximum in July. Based on data from the U.K. weather radar network, a climatology of 685 convective storms was developed. The occurrence of convective storms was relatively high year-round except for an abrupt minimum in February–April. Multicellular lines (43.5%) were the most common morphology with a maximum in October, followed by isolated cells (33.1%) with a maximum in May–September, and nonlinear clusters (23.4%) with a maximum in November–January. Convective storms were associated with 104 (56.8%) of the tropopause folds identified in this study, with the association strongest in December. Of the 55 tropopause folds observed on the eastern side of an upper-level trough, 37 (67.3%) were associated with convective storms, most commonly in the form of multicellular lines. Of the 128 tropopause folds observed on the western side of an upper-level trough, 42 (32.8%) were associated with convective storms, most commonly isolated cells. These results suggest that more organized storms tend to form in environments favorable for synoptic-scale ascent.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Bogdan Antonescu, Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Simon Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom. E-mail: bogdan.antonescu@manchester.ac.uk

Abstract

A five-year (2006–10) radar-based climatology of tropopause folds and convective storms was constructed for Wales, United Kingdom, to determine how deep, moist convection is modulated by tropopause folds. Based on the continuous, high-resolution data from a very high frequency (VHF) wind-profiling radar located at Capel Dewi, Wales, 183 tropopause folds were identified. Tropopause folds were most frequent in January with a secondary maximum in July. Based on data from the U.K. weather radar network, a climatology of 685 convective storms was developed. The occurrence of convective storms was relatively high year-round except for an abrupt minimum in February–April. Multicellular lines (43.5%) were the most common morphology with a maximum in October, followed by isolated cells (33.1%) with a maximum in May–September, and nonlinear clusters (23.4%) with a maximum in November–January. Convective storms were associated with 104 (56.8%) of the tropopause folds identified in this study, with the association strongest in December. Of the 55 tropopause folds observed on the eastern side of an upper-level trough, 37 (67.3%) were associated with convective storms, most commonly in the form of multicellular lines. Of the 128 tropopause folds observed on the western side of an upper-level trough, 42 (32.8%) were associated with convective storms, most commonly isolated cells. These results suggest that more organized storms tend to form in environments favorable for synoptic-scale ascent.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Bogdan Antonescu, Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Simon Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom. E-mail: bogdan.antonescu@manchester.ac.uk
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