MESOSCALE-CONVECTIVE PROCESSES IN THE ATMOSPHERE
This modern textbook is devoted to a deep understanding of mesoscale-convective processes in the atmosphere. Mesoscale-convective processes are commonly realized in the form of thunderstorms, which are dynamic, fast evolving, and assume a broad range of sizes and severity. Indeed, convective storms have the potential to spawn tornadoes and generate damaging “straight-line” winds, and are additionally responsible for the rainfall that can be both detrimental but also immensely beneficial to society.
To facilitate this understanding, descriptions of the formation, dynamics, and qualitative characteristics of specific convective phenomena such as supercell thunderstorms and mesoscale convective systems are provided. Although the descriptions pertain largely to the extratropical atmosphere, examples of related tropical phenomena are given for comparison and contrast. To provide a further holistic perspective, separate chapters are included on mesoscale observations and data analysis, numerical modeling, and the theoretical predictability and actual numerical prediction of mesoscale weather. An additional chapter on interactions and feedbacks addresses ways in which convective storms affect and are affected by external processes, particularly on the synoptic and planetary scales.
This textbook provides advanced students, researchers, and weather professionals with a modern, accessible treatment of the convective processes that lie within the range of the atmospheric mesoscale.