Environmental Factors Affecting Shear Line Tornadogenesis in 30 September 2003 Tyrrhenian Sea Waterspouts

Waterspouts observed on 30 September 2003 were studied to determine critical environmental factors leading to shear line tornadogenesis. This study was undertaken based on the hypothesis that a relationship between CAPE and surface shear influences the strength and duration of the waterspout vortices. A numerical simulation was completed to test this hypothesis. The numerical simulation produced a large population of surface-based vortices – including some that could be classified as waterspouts – for our study. From an extensive investigation of the numerical vortices produced in our simulation, it appears that a relationship between CAPE and surface shear plays a defining role in waterspout tornadogenesis. Full results of our investigation will be presented at the oral presentation.