Postfrontal Convective Snow: A Local to Global Observational Perspective

An observational study of postfrontal convective snow will be presented from both satellite-based global to surface-based remote sensing/in situ perspectives. A spaceborne radar-derived shallow cumuliform snowfall dataset derived from CloudSat observations and products will be presented to illustrate the ubiquitous global nature of snowfall events initiated and invigorated by air/sea interactions. CloudSat observations will be linked to various model-derived environmental parameters to explore linkages between convective snowfall vigor and salient geophysical parameters. A local observational lake-effect snowfall perspective will also be presented using the following combined ground-based observations deployed on and near Lake Superior: a vertically-pointing Micro Rain Radar, cloud microphysical observations from an optical disdrometer, and over-water sensible and latent heat fluxes collected by Great Lakes Evaporation Network flux towers near Marquette, MI. The ground-based results will highlight unique aspects of lake-effect snow in the Upper Great Lakes from interesting case studies and seasonal dataset analyses.