(To be Presented at 8:30 am) Observations of misocyclones along boundaries during IHOP

Misocyclones hold significant scientific interest as both a precursor of nonsupercell tornadogenesis and through a possible relationship with convection initiation. Modeling studies have documented the formation and evolution of misocyclones along fluid boundaries. However, high resolution observations necessary for validating these events are rare.

During the International H2O Project (IHOP), high resolution Dual- and multi-Doppler observations of many interesting misocyclone events were collected by the Doppler on Wheels (DOW), SMART-radar, and XPOL mobile radars on several days. Many evolution processes of existing misocyclone populations were observed in great detail. This study documents several noteworthy events in the IHOP case days of 3, 10, and 19 June 2002, including the evolution of populations of misocyclones, the morphology of individual misocyclones, and misocyclone merger events. All are observed with high temporal and spatial resolution.