Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region
Abstract The behaviour of severe thunderstorms, particularly supercells, in complex terrain is still poorly understood. Utilising 6 years of radar-, lightning- and radiosounding-based thunderstorm data in the domain of the Swiss radar network, we study different thunderstorm types in separate topogr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00352-z |
| _version_ | 1797860032353665024 |
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| author | Monika Feldmann Alessandro Hering Marco Gabella Alexis Berne |
| author_facet | Monika Feldmann Alessandro Hering Marco Gabella Alexis Berne |
| author_sort | Monika Feldmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The behaviour of severe thunderstorms, particularly supercells, in complex terrain is still poorly understood. Utilising 6 years of radar-, lightning- and radiosounding-based thunderstorm data in the domain of the Swiss radar network, we study different thunderstorm types in separate topographical regions. We classify the storms as ordinary thunderstorms, intense and severe rainstorms, hail and severe hailstorms and supercellular storms. After identifying the overlaps between the storm categories of rainstorms, hailstorms and supercells, the life cycles of several intensity metrics are investigated. This analysis allows the identification of predictors for intensification within severe storm life cycles. One of the most important predictors is the detection of a mesocyclone in a supercell before the onset or intensification of hail. We then divide the radar domain into sub-regions ranging from the Northwestern Po Valley, the Southern Prealps, main Alpine ridge, Northern Prealps, Swiss Plateau and Jura. This regional split separates storms in different terrain complexities. An investigation of the intensity distribution of storms in each region shows a clear intensity decrease over the main Alpine ridge, intermediate values over the moderately complex Prealpine regions and peaks for the flat Po Valley and Swiss Plateau. In contrast, the highest frequency of storms is found in the Prealpine regions on each side, with a lower frequency in the flat areas and a minimum in convective activity over the main Alpine ridge. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:39:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b9bddf7c54b4d27ad75321c1cb73cfd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-3722 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:39:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b9bddf7c54b4d27ad75321c1cb73cfd2023-03-26T11:08:33ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222023-03-016111110.1038/s41612-023-00352-zHailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine regionMonika Feldmann0Alessandro Hering1Marco Gabella2Alexis Berne3Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, EPFLRadar, Satellites and Nowcasting DivisionRadar, Satellites and Nowcasting DivisionEnvironmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, EPFLAbstract The behaviour of severe thunderstorms, particularly supercells, in complex terrain is still poorly understood. Utilising 6 years of radar-, lightning- and radiosounding-based thunderstorm data in the domain of the Swiss radar network, we study different thunderstorm types in separate topographical regions. We classify the storms as ordinary thunderstorms, intense and severe rainstorms, hail and severe hailstorms and supercellular storms. After identifying the overlaps between the storm categories of rainstorms, hailstorms and supercells, the life cycles of several intensity metrics are investigated. This analysis allows the identification of predictors for intensification within severe storm life cycles. One of the most important predictors is the detection of a mesocyclone in a supercell before the onset or intensification of hail. We then divide the radar domain into sub-regions ranging from the Northwestern Po Valley, the Southern Prealps, main Alpine ridge, Northern Prealps, Swiss Plateau and Jura. This regional split separates storms in different terrain complexities. An investigation of the intensity distribution of storms in each region shows a clear intensity decrease over the main Alpine ridge, intermediate values over the moderately complex Prealpine regions and peaks for the flat Po Valley and Swiss Plateau. In contrast, the highest frequency of storms is found in the Prealpine regions on each side, with a lower frequency in the flat areas and a minimum in convective activity over the main Alpine ridge.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00352-z |
| spellingShingle | Monika Feldmann Alessandro Hering Marco Gabella Alexis Berne Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
| title | Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region |
| title_full | Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region |
| title_fullStr | Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region |
| title_short | Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region |
| title_sort | hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells a regional analysis of convective storm types in the alpine region |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00352-z |
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