EUMeTrain: Rapid Cyclogenesis over Central Europe, 17-20 Nov 2004

Vertical Cross Sections

In this chapter Vertical Cross Sections are used to further investigate the following features of the development:


Vertical Cross Sections (VCS)

Analysis of the cloud head and the surface cold front

19 November 2004: 06 UTC


Development of the dry slot and its associated PV anomaly

19 November 2004: 12 UTC
19 November 2004: 18 UTC


Summary

The vertical cross sections help us to better understand the three-dimensional dynamics of the development.
The surface cold front can be revealed by taking into account the distribution of convergence and vertical motion. Parameters like temperature advection and vorticity advection show a typical behaviour of a rapid cyclogenesis.
With the cross section through the dry slot a deep PV anomaly can be revealed as well as a distinct narrow area of low relative humidity reaching down to low layers of the atmosphere.