Convective Cloud Climatologies Constructed from Satellite Imagery

Klitch, Marjorie A.; Weaver, John F.; Kelly, Frank P.; Haar, Thomas H. Vonder

doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1985)113<0326:ccccfs>2.0.co;2

Cited by 42 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Klitch et al, 1985). For instance, Gambill and Mecikalski (2011) found that steeper gradients are associated with a greater percentage of convective cloud cover than more horizontally oriented terrains.…”

Section: Processing Terrain Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hallenbeck, 1922;Klitch, Weaver, Kelly, & Vonder Haar, 1985;Smith, Baeck, Ntelekos, Villarini, & Steiner, 2011). Additionally, observations of local Blacksburg NWSFO forecasters cite the heterogeneous topography of their CWA as frequently contributing to preferential storm propagation along suspected differential heating boundaries associated with ridgelines [J. Hudgins, Lead Forecaster, NWSFO Blacksburg, 2013, personal communication].…”

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confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of lightning associated with low-shear thunderstorm environments in the central Appalachian region

2015

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Differential heating, the preferential warming of terrain by insolation based on its gradient and aspect, has been observed to play an instrumental role in thunderstorm formation in weak flow regimes. In this study, spatiotemporal cluster analysis was used to group total lightning observations into likely thunderstorms, which were then categorized into lightning-defined (LD) storm modes. Flashes associated with the 351 LD single-cell storms identified were then imported into a geographic information system to compare their frequency against the presence of east-and south-facing surfaces with above-average gradients, termed "enhanced diurnal heating surfaces" (EDHSs). The influence of EDHSs on LD single-cell total lightning and storm frequency was examined via a series of pooled t-tests at eight different spatial scales. The results indicate that EDHSs possessed a significantly greater frequency of LD single-cell storms, 37.6% greater than non-EDHSs, with the relationship best observed at a 15-km resolution. The analysis was then repeated but with terrain aspect ignored. The elimination of aspect as an EDHS requirement removed all statistical significance from the initial results, suggesting that aspect is indeed a key contributor to single-cell thunderstorm formation within areas of complex terrain.

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Section: Processing Terrain Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of lightning associated with low-shear thunderstorm environments in the central Appalachian region

2015

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“…This technique has been used in numerous regional and mesoscale studies, for example, Gibson and Vonder Haar (1990), Reinke et al (1992), and Klitch et al (1985).…”

Section: Data Collection and Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the work of Klitch et al (1985) and Gibson and Vonder Haar (1990) has contributed to our understanding of initiation and feedback mechanisms on the mesoscale and the influence and interaction with the synoptic scale.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-ResolutionGOES-8Visible and Infrared Cloud Frequency Composites over Northern Florida during the Summers 1996–99

2001

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GOES-8 visible and infrared cloud frequency composites have been created from imagery collected during June, July, and August for the years 1996-99 over northern Florida. These cloud frequency composites are unique because they offer high-resolution coverage over a small area and have been tailored to address forecast needs. Both monthly and regime cloud frequency composites are presented. Nine regimes were designated to reflect the strength and development of the sea-breeze front under various synoptic winds and the resulting effect on convective development. The regimes were designated by mean boundary layer wind speed and direction over the region of interest. Results from four of the regimes are presented.A total of 222 days (60% of all possible days) were designated for the various wind regimes. Regime 4 (W to SW flow) occurred most frequently (24%) and had the most widespread distribution of higher cloud frequency, occurring both near the coast and inland. Regime 2, with contrasting E to NE flow, was the next most frequently occurring regime (17%) and had lower cloud frequencies, particularly inland in Alabama and Georgia. Regime 5, with strong W to SW flow (15%, not presented) was third, followed by Regime 8 with N to NW flow (13%) and Regime 1 (11%) with light and variable or light SE flow.The monthly composites included the days from the various regime days as well as those with a completely disturbed or completely suppressed sea-breeze circulation. Nonetheless, the influence of the sea-breeze circulation can readily be seen in the diurnal progression of cloud frequency over a month. The variations seen in monthly cloud frequency composites for June, July, and August 1996-99 highlight periods of high and low cloud frequency and offer a different perspective on year-to-year and month-to-month variability.The regime cloud frequency results are actively being used during the summer season in aviation and public forecasting to supplement available information.

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“…Investigations that traced convective activity through lightning strikes (Lopez and Holle 1986;Reap 1986) produced results that were similar to those done by radar-based studies. Klitch et al (1985) relied on satellite composites to reveal the preferred areas for convective initiation. Their study presented evidence that the most favorable regions for thunderstorm initiation were so, not because of elevation alone, but also because of steep slope angles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow over Heated Terrain. Part II: Generation of Convective Precipitation

Tucker

Cṙook

2005

Monthly Weather Review

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Previous studies have shown that thunderstorms in the Rocky Mountain region have preferred areas in which to form. There has been some indication that these areas depend on the midtropospheric wind direction. A nonhydrostatic model with a terrain-following horizontal grid is employed to investigate the initiation of precipitating convection over heated topography. Horizontally homogeneous meteorological conditions with no directional shear in the vertical wind profile are used.The numerical simulations indicate that precipitating convection was more likely to be generated downwind of ridges than upwind of them. Initiation of these storms was more likely downwind of ridges with their long axis parallel to the wind direction than downwind of ridges with their long axis perpendicular to the wind direction. In Part I of this study it was shown that heating-induced convergence is larger downwind of a ridge with its longer axis parallel to the wind direction. For the orographic configuration of the Rocky Mountains, total precipitation is maximized for southerly and northwesterly winds. Slower wind speeds are more likely and faster wind speeds are less likely to produce convective storms. Soundings with larger instability are more likely to produce convection. The soundings with a greater temperature lapse rate produce more initiation locations, and soundings with greater moisture produce greater amounts of precipitation.Even though a number of assumptions were made for this study, the authors believe the results explain a significant amount of the observed variability in the initiation locations of precipitating convection in the Rocky Mountains during the summer. Because of the theoretical basis for this work, detailed in Part I of this study, the authors believe it should explain convective initiation in other mountainous areas that are subject to strong solar heating.

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Convective Cloud Climatologies Constructed from Satellite Imagery

Cited by 42 publications

References 0 publications

Spatial distribution of lightning associated with low-shear thunderstorm environments in the central Appalachian region

Spatial distribution of lightning associated with low-shear thunderstorm environments in the central Appalachian region

High-ResolutionGOES-8Visible and Infrared Cloud Frequency Composites over Northern Florida during the Summers 1996–99

Flow over Heated Terrain. Part II: Generation of Convective Precipitation

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