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Finescale Single- and Dual-doppler Analysis of Tornado Intensification, Maintenance, and Dissipation In The Orleans, Nebraska, Supercell

Abstract

Finescale single- and dual-Doppler observations are used to diagnose the three-dimensional structure of the wind field surrounding a tornado that occurred near the town of Orleans, Nebraska, on 22 May 2004. The evolution of the vorticity and divergence fields and other structures near the tornado are documented in the lowest kilometer. Changes in tornado intensity are compared to the position of the tornado relative to primary and secondary gust fronts. Circulation on scales of a few kilometers surrounding the tornado remains relatively constant during the analysis period, which spans the intensifying and mature periods of the tornado’s life cycle. Stretching of vertical vorticity and tilting of horizontal vorticity are diagnosed, but the latter is near or below the threshold of detectability in this analysis during the observation period in the analyzed domain. Low-level circulation within 500 m of the tornado increased several minutes before vortex-relative and ground-relative near-surface wind speeds in the tornado increased, raising the possibility that such trends in circulation may be useful in forecasting tornado intensification.

Article / Publication Data
Active/Online
YES
Volume
138
Available Metadata
Accepted On
August 16, 2010
DOI ↗
Fiscal Year
Publication Name
Monthly Weather Review
Published On
December 01, 2010
Final Online Publication On
December 01, 2010
Print Volume
138
Print Number
12
Page Range
4439–4455.
Submitted On
December 29, 2009
URL ↗

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Authors

Authors who have authored or contributed to this publication.

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