Streamwise Vorticity Effects on Supercell Morphology and Persistence

Abstract

Abstract The structure and steadiness of radar-observed supercell thunderstorms are examined in terms of their particular distribution of vorticity. The data confirm that the vorticity vector in supercells points in the direction of the storm-relative velocity vector and that supercell updrafts contain large positive helicity (V·ω). The alignment of vorticity and velocity vectors dictates that low pressure associates not only with vorticity but also with helicity. Accelerating pressure gradients and helicity, both thought important for suppressing small-scale features within supercells, may combine with shear-induced vertical pressure gradient forces to organize and maintain the large-scale persistent background updrafts that characterize supercells. Rear downdrafts possess weak positive or negative helicity. Thus, the decline of storm circulation may be hastened by turbulent dissipation when the downdraft air eventually mixes into supercell updrafts.