Dynamic and Thermodynamic Characteristics of a Microburst-Producing Storm in Colorado Determined from JAWS (Joint Airport Weather Studies) Dual-Doppler Data

摘要

Some dynamic and thermodynamic structures of a microburst-producing storm which occurred on 14 July 1982 in Colorado were studied in detail. Dual-Doppler radar data collected during the Joint Airport Weather Studies (JAWS) project at Denver's Stapleton International Airport, were objectively analyzed to produce a 3D wind field. The analyzed domain had dimensions of 10 km by 10 km by 8.5 km centered on the microburst. Vertical velocities were computed by integrating the anelastic continuity equation downward from the storm's top. A variational approach was then employed to adjust the derived three-dimensional wind components. Subsequently, fields of deviation perturbation pressure, density and virtual temperature were recovered from a detailed wind field using the three momentum equations. These retrieved fields were subjected to internal consistancy checks to determine the level of confidence before interpretation.