The Understanding Severe Thunderstorms and Alberta Boundary Layers Experiment (UNSTABLE) 2008

Abstract

a field and modeling study aims to improve our understanding of boundary layer processes in the foothills of the alberta rocky mountains and how they relate to the initiation of severe thunderstorms. U nderstanding convective initiation (CI) and predicting severe thunderstorms remains a challenge for atmospheric scientists and forecasters. However, accurate forecasts of the timing and location of CI are critical to maximize the lead time and accuracy of severe weather watches and warnings. The small spatial and temporal scales (sometimes only hundreds of meters and minutes, respectively) on which atmospheric processes leading to CI occur make them difficult to measure observationally and simulate using numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. An attempt to resolve these processes via observations can be made using 

Characteristics and Synoptic Environment of Drylines Occurring over the Higher Terrain of Southeastern Wyoming

“…Only a few studies investigating drylines outside of the SGP have been published (e.g., Weston 1972;Arnup and Reeder 2007;Taylor et al 2011). It has been noted for many years by researchers at the University of Wyoming and by forecasters at the National Weather Service Office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, that dryline-like surface boundaries appear in southeastern Wyoming from time to time.…”

WRF Model Simulations of the Influence of the Athabasca Oil Sands Development on Convective Storms

“…Alberta is prone to severe thunderstorms, with many regions frequently experiencing damage because of hail, wind, and tornadoes (Smith et al 1998). Although the majority of thunderstorm research in Alberta is focused on the heavily populated Edmonton-Calgary urban corridor and the severe thunderstorm-prone lee side of the Rocky Mountains (Taylor et al 2011), thunderstorms certainly occur in other areas of the province. For example, 7-cm-diameter hail from a severe thunderstorm caused $15 million CAD in damage to Fort McMurray in 2007 (Crewe 2008).…”

The California State University Mobile Atmospheric Profiling System: A Facility for Research and Education in Boundary Layer Meteorology

“…While there is an advantage of fixed towers and profiling platforms, mobile platforms offer the ability to seek or chase the phenomenon (Biggerstaff et al 2005). These mobile mesonet platforms have become very popular in severe weather research (Taylor et al 2011). These mobile mesonet platforms have become very popular in severe weather research (Taylor et al 2011).…”

“…The MIPS was developed for observing both boundary layer phenomena and storm dynamics (Karan and Knupp 2006). Similar systems have been developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Mobile Integrated Sounding System (MISS) (Cohn et al 2004), and by the University of Manitoba (Taylor et al 2011). Similar systems have been developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Mobile Integrated Sounding System (MISS) (Cohn et al 2004), and by the University of Manitoba (Taylor et al 2011).…”