Vertical Cross Sections
Vertical cross sections are useful for investigating the vertical distribution of relevant parameters along a line of interesting weather phenomena. In this chapter two aspects will be considered:
- Patterns of potential instability
- Dynamical forcings
Vertical Cross Sections (VCS) for the super cell
In this chapter VCSs of several numerical parameters will be discussed.
Summary of the investigations in this chapter
The sequence of VCSs reveal the classical patterns of a summer convective situation. Whereas at 00 UTC the super cell was in its intensifying phase the NWP-parameters from 06 UTC represent the situation about one hour before the maximum intensity.
09th June 2004, 00 UTC, warm side of the super cell
- potential instability between 800 and 500 hPa
- most intense warm air advection happened between 1000 and 800 yielding a labilisation
- maximum of upward motion at about 850 hPa that was according to a strong convergence near the ground and weak divergence at 850 to 700 hPa.
09th June 2004, 06 UTC, warm side of the super cell
- only light potential instability (between 800 and 600 hPa)
- maximum of warm air advection happened now at about 850 hPa that is a hint to a reduced tendency of labilisation
- the most intense convergence exhibited a higher position of its maximum, too.