Microphysical and Near-Storm Environmental Control

on the Maintenance of Two Nocturnal MCSs during

PECAN

Frederick Iat-Hin Tam1 , Ming-Jen Yang1 , Wen-Chau Lee2

1
) Department of Atmospheric Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
2
) Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder,
Colorado, USA

Two nocturnal mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurred in western

Kansas, USA at 15 July 2015 are analyzed using multiple ground-based and
airborne observational datasets collected during the Plains Elevated Convec-
tion At Night (PECAN; Geerts et al. 2017) field project. These two systems
propagated under similarly low shear environment, yet their evolution differed
significantly: the northern MCS (M CSN ) weakened dramatically but the south-
ern MCS (M CSS ) maintained its strength and later organized into a bow-echo
structure.
The high temporal and spatial resolution of PECAN datasets enables us to
perform detailed observational analyses on the microphysical structure of the
two MCS and the subtle thermodynamical and moisture changes in the pre-
MCS environments, which can be used to further illustrate the constraints on
nocturnal MCS strength impose by the aforementioned factors.
Radar analysis reveals a strong relationship between MCS strength and their
internal structure. Specifically, the strength of the rear inflow jet (RIJ; eg.
Houze 2004) seemed to be important in determining the intensity of these sys-
tems. Stronger and deeper RIJ in M CSS transported smaller ice particles into
the rear of the strong convective cells and subsequently enhanced the mid-level
updraft by extra latent heat release associated with vapor deposition and rim-
ing as these particles entrained into the updraft region. Weaker RIJ in M CSN
generated a different response, with weaker updraft and increased evaporation
below the freezing level due to longer hydrometeor residence time. This finding
is similar to the hydrometeor recirculation process proposed by Siegel and Van
den Heever (2013).
MCS strength difference was further amplified by the subtle changes in the
pre-MCS environment. Observations indicated the existence of localized envi-
ronmental stabilization near M CSN , which was caused by sustained subsidence
in low troposphere. This subsidence generated an inversion layer and trans-
ported drier air aloft into low troposphere. These processes also played a role
in the weakening of M CSN .

Keywords. Cloud Dynamics, Rear Inflow Jet, Cloud Microphysics, Radar/Radars

Observations
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