Abstract
Abstract The structure of the convective band of 14 September in the dense GATE observing array is determined using wind and thermodynamic data primarily from multiple aircraft penetrations, which are well distributed in the vertical and in time. The well-defined mesoscale features in the line, which are 10–40 km in scale, quasi-two-dimensional, and persist for several hours, determine the distribution of the convective-scale features, which are 5 km or less in size, three-dimensional, not generally detectable for more than one flight leg. At the leading edge, a 30 km zone of strong ascent is computed from two-dimensional continuity. Here, lifting of the ambient air creates a favorable environment—not found elsewhere—for deep cumulonimbus clouds to develop. Their updrafts are weak, 2–4 m s−1 on the average. Behind the updraft zone, below 3–4 km, is a broad descent zone. It corresponds to the stratiform rain area, and has little convection, and some drying at lower levels. On the average, the mass flux by ...
Published Version
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