Storm-scale Flow Regimes in Supercell Thunderstoms as Visualized Using a Trajectory Mapping Technique

Trajectory mapping is a visualization technique that allows spatial analysis of information from thousands of Lagrangian trajectories in an Eulerian frame of reference. This method is tested using a high temporal and spatial resolution cloud model before being applied to multiple observed supercell thunderstorms from radar-based kinematic analyzes. The utility of the trajectory mapping technique is illustrated by showing that the source height of the air trajectories is a good proxy to the model derived equivalent potential temperature.

Trajectory mapping can reveal significantly finer-scale evolution than is obvious from the parent Eulerian reference frame because regions of deformation tend to collapse the scale of the flow, . This attribute of the technique is a significant advantage when examining radar-based analyses where the scale of the flow is often under-sampled by remote sensors. Using this technique, this study will investigate how storm-scale flow-regime behavior differs in classic compared to high-precipitation supercell thunderstorms and its potential impact on tornadogenesis.