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Editorial Type:
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Article Type:
Research Article

Mobile Mesonet Observations on 3 May 1999

Paul M. MarkowskiDepartment of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

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Print Publication:
01 Jun 2002
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0434(2002)017<0430:MMOOM>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
430–444
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Abstract

Two long-lived tornadic supercells were sampled by an automobile-borne observing system on 3 May 1999. The “mobile mesonet” observed relatively warm and moist air, weak baroclinity, and small pressure excess at the surface within the rear-flank downdrafts of the storms. Furthermore, the downdraft air parcels, which have been shown to enter the tornado in past observational and modeling studies, were associated with substantial convective available potential energy and small convective inhibition. The detection of only small equivalent potential temperature deficits (1–4 K) within the downdrafts may imply that the downdrafts were driven primarily by nonhydrostatic pressure gradients and/or precipitation drag, rather than by the entrainment of potentially cold environmental air at midlevels.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Paul Markowski, The Pennsylvania State University, 503 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802. Email: marko@mail.meteo.psu.edu

Abstract

Two long-lived tornadic supercells were sampled by an automobile-borne observing system on 3 May 1999. The “mobile mesonet” observed relatively warm and moist air, weak baroclinity, and small pressure excess at the surface within the rear-flank downdrafts of the storms. Furthermore, the downdraft air parcels, which have been shown to enter the tornado in past observational and modeling studies, were associated with substantial convective available potential energy and small convective inhibition. The detection of only small equivalent potential temperature deficits (1–4 K) within the downdrafts may imply that the downdrafts were driven primarily by nonhydrostatic pressure gradients and/or precipitation drag, rather than by the entrainment of potentially cold environmental air at midlevels.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Paul Markowski, The Pennsylvania State University, 503 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802. Email: marko@mail.meteo.psu.edu

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