Observations of shallow convection over the Black Forest during COPS

During the COPS (Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study) the UK FAAM BAe-146 research aircraft made 13 flights over the Black Forest region of Germany to observe cloud-aerosol interactions and convective dynamics. This paper describes observations made below and within shallow cumulus over the Black Forest. The mountains rise to a maximum altitude of approximately 1000 m and measurements were made from approximately 700 m to 2200 m above the highest points. Measurements were made of turbulence, thermodynamic properties and trace gases (ozone, NO, NO2 and CO). The spectral and co-spectral properties of the convection will be presented and used to interpret the degree to which the motion is controlled by the underlying orography. Further analysis using wavelets reveals how the orographic control varies with distance from the surface. The implications of the observations for convective initiation and for organised exchanges between the boundary layer and free troposphere will be discussed.