Mesoanalysis of the Interactions of Precipitating Convection and the Boundary Layer

We are using mesoanalysis to characterize convective downdrafts and cold pools in the boundary layer over land. The goal is to provide information for evaluating cloud system resolving models (CSRMs) and cumulus parameterizations. We are using ten years of data including Oklahoma Mesonet measurements of the standard surface variables every 5 minutes, and hourly gridded precipitation amounts derived from WSR-88D reflectivity by the Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center (ABRFC). We plan to statistically relate the properties of convective downdrafts and cold pools to the synoptic situation. We are also using 3D CSRM simulations to test a method for estimating cloud-base updraft and downdraft mass fluxes from mesoscale surface wind fields.