An Observational Analysis of a Developing Mesoscale Convective Complex

Abstract

Abstract Dual-Doppler radar, surface mesonet, satellite, and upper-air sounding data from the 1985 Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM-Central field experiment are used to analyze the early growth stages of a mesoscale convective complex (MCC) that developed in the network on 3 June 1985. This MCC was characterized by a complex distribution of convective clusters and intervening stratiform echo as it grew from its initial stage to the typical meso-α-scale cloud shield structure at its mature stage. The MCC exhibited two very different states of organization as it grew. The early state was characterized by a relatively weak and disorganized surface pressure pattern and a highly variable three-dimensional mesoscale flow structure. The later state was characterized by a well-developed mesohigh-wake-low surface pressure pattern and more organized mososcale flow fields. The evolution between these two regimes occurred about 1 h after the upper-level cloud shield reached MCC proportions and manifested its...