Extended Abstract (376K)P2.9
A climatological analysis of heatbursts in Oklahoma
Justin D. Lane, NOAA/NWSFO, Greer, SC
Heatbursts, the hot, dry outflow winds occasionally produced by decaying thunderstorms, are one of the most fascinating events associated with atmospheric convection. Past research on heatbursts has revealed that they are largely, if not exclusively, nocturnal, meso-b or meso-g scale phenomena, and quite rare. Research has also suggested that heatbursts are similar in nature to the dry microburst, which is most commonly observed in the High Plains. Due to their apparent rarity and the small spatial and temporal scales upon which heatbursts occur, documentation of the phenomena is limited within the meteorological literature. Thus, a permanent, mesoscale network of surface observing stations would create an ideal situation for a more detailed analysis of the physical and climatological characteristics of heatbursts. The Oklahoma Mesonet, a network of 115 automated surface observing stations providing 30 km resolution data at 5-minute intervals, provides a unique opportunity to undertake the first ever detailed climatological study of heatbursts. Utilizing 5 years of archived data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, research was performed to document the average size, duration, and thermodynamic perturbations of an Oklahoma heatburst. This research also documents the frequency of heatbursts in Oklahoma in terms of the time of year, time of day, and area of the state affected. The results of this research indicate that heatbursts in Oklahoma are largely warm-season, nocturnal phenomena that occur most commonly in the western part of the state. Although these findings are very consistent with existing theories on heatbursts, the research also indicates that there are exceptions to these theories.
Poster Session 2, Convectively Driven High Wind Events
Monday, 12 August 2002, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM
Previous paper