Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms
To gain a deeper understanding of the structural and evolutionary characteristics of supercell tornadoes that occurred in eastern China on 14 May 2021, observations from the S-band dual-polarization radars, soundings and other instruments are used to investigate the evolutionary process of the torna...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/797 |
| _version_ | 1797501655116152832 |
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| author | Bin Wu Ming Wei Yanfang Li |
| author_facet | Bin Wu Ming Wei Yanfang Li |
| author_sort | Bin Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To gain a deeper understanding of the structural and evolutionary characteristics of supercell tornadoes that occurred in eastern China on 14 May 2021, observations from the S-band dual-polarization radars, soundings and other instruments are used to investigate the evolutionary process of the tornado formation by the mergering and strengthening of supercell storms. The results are described as follows. The updraft by upper divergence and vertical thermal instability induced by the cold source at the tropopause provided the environmental conditions suitable for tornado formation. The tornado event involved three storm merger processes, each of which was associated with an increase in the echo intensity, vertical rising speed, and vertical vorticity of the supercell. Furthermore, during the last merger, the merging of the two vortices resulted in the reduction of the rotation radius of the new vortex, which also provided a favorable condition for tornadogenesis. A schematic was proposed to describe storm mergers. The characteristics of the velocity spectrum width were indicative of the occurrence and evolution of the tornado in this case. During the tornado stage, distinct polarimetric variable signatures (e.g., a tornado debris signature and a differential reflectivity arc) and radial velocity signatures (i.e., a tornadic vortex signature) were observed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:21:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b3fc241362648bd8e36377f9c26e59e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:21:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b3fc241362648bd8e36377f9c26e59e2023-11-23T10:02:57ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-05-0113579710.3390/atmos13050797Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo MechanismsBin Wu0Ming Wei1Yanfang Li2Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaHuzhou Meteorological Bureau, Huzhou 313000, ChinaTo gain a deeper understanding of the structural and evolutionary characteristics of supercell tornadoes that occurred in eastern China on 14 May 2021, observations from the S-band dual-polarization radars, soundings and other instruments are used to investigate the evolutionary process of the tornado formation by the mergering and strengthening of supercell storms. The results are described as follows. The updraft by upper divergence and vertical thermal instability induced by the cold source at the tropopause provided the environmental conditions suitable for tornado formation. The tornado event involved three storm merger processes, each of which was associated with an increase in the echo intensity, vertical rising speed, and vertical vorticity of the supercell. Furthermore, during the last merger, the merging of the two vortices resulted in the reduction of the rotation radius of the new vortex, which also provided a favorable condition for tornadogenesis. A schematic was proposed to describe storm mergers. The characteristics of the velocity spectrum width were indicative of the occurrence and evolution of the tornado in this case. During the tornado stage, distinct polarimetric variable signatures (e.g., a tornado debris signature and a differential reflectivity arc) and radial velocity signatures (i.e., a tornadic vortex signature) were observed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/797supercell tornadovertical vorticitystorm mergervelocity spectrum widthpolarimetric variables |
| spellingShingle | Bin Wu Ming Wei Yanfang Li Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms Atmosphere supercell tornado vertical vorticity storm merger velocity spectrum width polarimetric variables |
| title | Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms |
| title_full | Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms |
| title_short | Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of the Evolution of a Supercell Tornado and Analysis of the Echo Mechanisms |
| title_sort | dual polarization radar observations of the evolution of a supercell tornado and analysis of the echo mechanisms |
| topic | supercell tornado vertical vorticity storm merger velocity spectrum width polarimetric variables |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/797 |
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