Numerical modeling of cell interaction

Cell interaction encompasses a range of behavior of nearby storms including altered hydrometeor and inflow trajectories, propagation of one cell along or across the gust front of another, and/or actual merging. Our study is focused on the longevity, propagation and rotational characteristics of mature storms as a function of the initial geometry and development time of two nearby cells. High resolution idealized simulations are being carried out with the WRF model, changing only the location and thermal perturbations of the incipient storms. Past studies have suggested that small differences in these initial properties can result in large changes in subsequent storm behavior, including intensity and duration of near-surface rotation. The current work is directed toward an improved understanding of the range of behaviors possible from such cell interactions, including the timing and intensity of mesocyclogenesis resulting from storms developing in proximity versus cells growing in isolation within the same buoyancy and shear environment.