West African Squall-Line Thermodynamic Structure Retrieved from Dual-Doppler Radar Observations

Abstract

Abstract Pressure and temperature fields within a West African squall line, retrieved from dual-Doppler radar data collected during the “COPT 81” (Convection Profonde Tropicale) experiment are presented. The method for derivation of thew results is approximately similar to that proposed by Gal-Chen, based on the anelastic equation of motion. Comparisons between pressure and temperature fields deduced from radar data at the lowest levels and surface network measurements show good agreement. The inferred thermodynamic structure displays the influence of a low-level frontward flow which is mainly due to a density current of cold air, generated in the stratiform region of the squall line and resulting from a mesoscale downdraft. This frontward flow contributes to initiate and maintain a frontal updraft through both nonhydrostatic pressure perturbation and temperature difference between entering air and colder frontward flow. At higher altitudes, mixing with the environment reduces buoyancy in the frontal updr...