HR: 0830h
AN: A31C-0041    [PDF]
TI: The Effect of Lake Michigan on the Sustanence of Mesoscale Convective Systems. Part I: Short-Term Climatology
AU: * Bentley, M L
EM: bentley@geog.niu.edu
AF: Northern Illinois University, Department of Geography, DeKalb, IL 60115-2895 United States
AU: Sparks, J
EM: stratus_78@yahoo.com
AF: National Weather Service, Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO 64153-2371 United States
AU: Graham, R
EM: randall.graham@noaa.gov
AF: National Weather Service Forecast Office, 4899 South Complex Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 United States
AB: The primary aim of this research is to investigate the influence of Lake Michigan on the intensity of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). One of the greatest nowcast challenges during the warm season is anticipating the impact of the Great Lakes on severe convection, particularly MCSs capable of producing damaging widespread windstorms known as derechos. Specific objectives of the research include: 1) The development of a short-term climatology of MCS events that have impacted the Great Lakes region over the past seven years (1996-2002); 2) An analysis of radar, satellite, surface (including buoy and lighthouse observations), and lake surface temperature data to determine the environmental conditions impacting the evolution of MCSs passing over a Lake Michigan; 3) An examination of MCS initiation times and seasonal frequencies of occurrence to delineate temporal consistencies in MCS evolution due to changing lake surface temperatures; and 4) The development of conceptual and forecast models to help anticipate MCS intensity and morphology as these systems interact with the Great Lakes environment.
DE: 3309 Climatology (1620)
DE: 3314 Convective processes
DE: 3329 Mesoscale meteorology
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting