Cell interaction, supercell behavior and tornadogenesis

There are a wide range of environments and scenarios comprising what is broadly described as cell interaction. Examples of mergers associated with tornadogenesis include Carey et al. (2003), Lee et al. (2006a, b), and Wurman et al. (2007), while Lindsey and Bunkers (2005) document a case where merging disrupted a tornadic storm. Recent results demonstrate how supercells developing in close proximity to one another can have notably different behavior than those developing in isolation, including stronger mesocyclones and greater intensity and areal coverage of high surface winds. We are extending this work and seek to improve our understanding of tornadoes in the context of storm interaction with a new emphasis on explicit simulation of tornadogenesis. We are addressing this problem at tornado-resolving resolution for a range of buoyancy, shear, and cell characteristics, including multiple-cell placement and age.

Carey, L. D., W. A. Petersen and S. A. Rutledge, 2003, Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 1811-1831.

Lee, B. D., B. F. Jewett, and R. B. Wilhelmson, 2006a,b: Wea. Forecasting, 4, 433-464.

Lindsey, D. T., and M. J. Bunkers, 2005: Wea. Forecasting, 20, 15-22.

Wurman, J., Y. Richardson, C. Alexander, S. Weygandt, and P. F. Zhang, 2007: Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 736-758.