Abstract
The history of investigation of rotating thunderstorms is briefly reviewed with emphasis on the recent results from comparisons of observations by Doppler radar and three-dimensional numerical simulations. The development of rotation is shown to depend on the tilting into the vertical of horizontal vorticity associated with mean shear. The concept of helicity as a quasi-conserved variable allows further insight into the process. It is suggested that rotating storms are unusually persistent and efficient because helical flow resists turbulent decay.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
André, J. C. and M. Lesieur, 1977: Influence of helicity on the evolution of isotropic turbulence at high Reynolds number. J. Fluid Mech., 81, pp. 187–207.
Asai, T., 1970: Stability of a plane parallel flow with variable vertical shear and unstable stratification. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 48, pp. 129–138.
Barnes, S. L., 1968: On the source of thunderstorm rotation. ESSA Tech. Memo NSSL 38. National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma.
Barnes, S. L., 1970: Some aspscts of a severe right-moving thunder storm deduced from mesonetwork observation. J. Atmos. Sci., 27, pp. 634–648.
Browning, K. A. and F. H. Ludlam, 1962: Airflow in convective storms. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 88, pp. 117–135.
Browning, K. A. and F. H. Ludlam,1964: Airflow and precipitation trajectories within severe local storms which travel to the right of the winds. J. Atmos. Sci., 21, pp. 634–639.
Browning, K. A. and F. H. Ludlam,1965: The evolution of tornadic storms. J. Atmos. Sci., 22, pp. 664–668.
Fujita, T. and H. Grandoso, 1968: Split of a thunderstorm into anticyclonic and cyclonic storms and their motion as determined from numerical model experiments. J. Atmos. Sci., 25, pp. 416–439.
Hammond, G. R., 1975: Study of a left moving thunderstorm of 23 April 1964. IERTM-NSSL-31, National Severe Storms Laboratory, ESSA, Norman, Oklahoma, 67 pp.
Hitchfield, W., 1960: The motion and erosion of convective storms in severe vertical wind shear. J. Meteor., 17, pp. 270–282.
Klemp, J. B. and Wilhelmson, R. B., 1978a: The simulation of three-dimensional convective storm dynamics. J. Atmos. Sci., 35, pp. 1070–1096.
Klemp, J. B. and, 1978b: Simulations of right and left moving storms produced through storm splitting. J. Atmos. Sci., 35, pp. 1097–1110.
Klemp, J. B.and P. S. Ray, 1981: Observed and numerically simulated structure of a mature supercell thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci., 38, pp. 1558–1580.
and R. Rotunno, 1983: A case study of the tornadic re-gion within a supercell thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci., 40, in press.
Kraichnan, R. H., 1973: Helical turbulence and absolute equilibrium. J. Fluid Mech., 59, pp. 745–752.
Newton, C. W. and S. Katz, 1958: Movement of Zarge convective rainstorms in relation to winds aloft. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 39, pp. 129–136.
Rotunno, R., 1981: On the evolution of thunderstorm rotation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 109, pp. 577–586.
Rotunno, R.,and J. B. Klemp, 1982: The influence of the shear-induced pressure gradient on thunderstorm motion. Mon. Wea. Rev., 110, pp. 136–151.
Sanders, F., 1983: Prediction of severe convection. This volume.
Schlesinger, R. E., 1978: A three-dimensional numerical model of an isolated thunderstorm. Part I: Comparative experiments for variable ambient wind shear. J. Atmos. Sci., 35, pp. 690–713.
Schlesinger, R. E.,1980: A three-dimensional numerical model of an iso-lated thunderstorm. Part II: Dynamics of updraft splitting and mesovortex couplet evolution. J. Atmos. Sci., 37, pp. 395–420.
Weisman, M. L. and J. B. Klemp, 1982: The dependence of numerically simulated convective storms on vertical wind shear and buoyancy. Mon. Wea. Rev., 110, pp. 504–520.
Wilhelmson, R. B. and J. B. Klemp, 1978: A numerical study of storm splitting that leads to long-lived storms. J. Atmos. Sci., 35, pp. 1974–1986.
Wilhelmson,and R. B. and J. B. Klemp,1981: A three-dimensional numerical simula-tion of splitting severe storms on 3 April 1964. J. Atmos. Sci., 38, pp. 1581–1600.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lilly, D.K. (1983). Dynamics of Rotating Thunderstorms. In: Lilly, D.K., Gal-Chen, T. (eds) Mesoscale Meteorology — Theories, Observations and Models. NATO ASI Series, vol 114. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2241-4_28
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2241-4_28
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8390-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-2241-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive