Abstract
Abstract Landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) contain highly-sheared environments that are conducive for supercell thunderstorm development. These TC supercells can produce tornadoes, often with little warning. In this study, dual-polarization radar signatures of tornadic and nontornadic TC supercells are examined in the context of known extratropical supercell radar signatures. Prior studies have only presented dual-polarization characteristics of TC supercells using a case study approach. Therefore, this paper aims to create a more comprehensive picture with a larger sample of cases, and an attempt is made to distinguish differences between tornadic and nontornadic TC supercells that may hold operational promise. The environments and characteristic structure of these supercells are notably different from prior conceptual models of supercells developed. Differential reflectivity (ZDR) columns are shallower in TC supercells when compared to their extratropical counterparts. ZDR columns are also less common in TC cases. The ZDR arc is more pronounced in TC supercells, with maximum and mean ZDR values within the arcs being larger. Separation angle between the specific differential phase (KDP) foot and ZDR arc is larger in TC supercells than extratropical supercells. Tornadic TC supercells had significantly stronger low-level mesocyclones than nontornadic TC supercells as measured by normalized rotation (NROT). The observed differences may help operational meteorologists use these signatures more effectively in warning decisions and motive further research into the evolution of dual-polarization signatures in tornadic and nontornadic TC supercells.
Published Version
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