Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes

Paul M. Markowski is an American meteorologist and leading expert on tornadogenesis and the forecasting of supercells and tornadoes. He was a principal investigator for the IHOP, PAMREX, and VORTEX2 field projects and, with Joshua Wurman, Howard Bluestein, et al., was on the VORTEX2 Steering Committee.Yvette Richardson is the author of Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes, published by Wiley.

"In summary, I highly recommend this book for use in courses in mesoscale meteorology at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level. It will serve as an important reference for researchers, instructors, and practitioners, and I look forward to using it in even more depth in my future teaching." (Bulletin of the American Met Society, 2012)"Markowski and Richardson (both meteorology, Penn State U.) deliver a very accessible advanced text on the dynamics of mesoscale meteorological phenomena, including boundary layer mesoscale phenomena, orographic phenomena and deep convection . . . an eye-pleasing design and extensive use of color photographs and illustrations make this book especially usable as both an undergraduate text and as a reference for graduate students, researchers, and meteorologists." (Booknews, 1 April 2011)

• Series Foreward xiPreface xiiiAcknowledgments xvList of Symbols xviiPART I General Principles 11 What is the Mesoscale? 31.1 Space and time scales 31.2 Dynamical distinctions between the mesoscale and synoptic scale 52 Basic Equations and Tools 112.1 Thermodynamics 112.2 Mass conservation 162.3 Momentum equations 172.4 Vorticity and circulation 212.5 Pressure perturbations 252.6 Thermodynamic diagrams 322.7 Hodographs 343 Mesoscale Instabilities 413.1 Static instability 413.2 Centrifugal instability 483.3 Inertial instability 493.4 Symmetric instability 533.5 Shear instability 58PART II Lower Tropospheric Mesoscale Phenomena 714 The Boundary Layer 734.1 The nature of turbulent fluxes 734.2 Surface energy budget 824.3 Structure and evolution of the boundary layer 834.4 Boundary layer convection 884.5 Lake-effect convection 934.6 Urban boundary layers 1034.7 The nocturnal low-level wind maximum 1055 Air Mass Boundaries 1155.1 Synoptic fronts 1175.2 Drylines 1325.3 Outflow boundaries 1405.4 Mesoscale boundaries originating from differential surface heating 1496 Mesoscale Gravity Waves 1616.1 Basic wave conventions 1616.2 Internal gravity wave dynamics 1656.3 Wave reflection 1706.4 Critical levels 1726.5 Structure and environments of ducted mesoscale gravity waves 1736.6 Bores 175PART III Deep Moist Convection 1817 Convection Initiation 1837.1 Requisites for convection initiation and the role of larger scales 1837.2 Mesoscale complexities of convection initiation 1897.3 Moisture convergence 1957.4 Elevated convection 1978 Organization of Isolated Convection 2018.1 Role of vertical wind shear 2018.2 Single-cell convection 2068.3 Multicellular convection 2098.4 Supercellular convection 2139 Mesoscale Convective Systems 2459.1 General characteristics 2459.2 Squall line structure 2499.3 Squall line maintenance 2539.4 Rear inflow and bow echoes 2609.5 Mesoscale convective complexes 26510 Hazards Associated with Deep Moist Convection 27310.1 Tornadoes 27310.2 Nontornadic, damaging straight-line winds 29210.3 Hailstorms 30610.4 Flash floods 309PART IV Orographic Mesoscale Phenomena 31511 Thermally Forced Winds in Mountainous Terrain 31711.1 Slope winds 31711.2 Valley winds 32012 Mountain Waves and Downslope Windstorms 32712.1 Internal gravity waves forced by two-dimensional terrain 32712.2 Gravity waves forced by isolated peaks 33212.3 Downslope windstorms 33312.4 Rotors 34213 Blocking of the Wind by Terrain 34313.1 Factors that govern whether air flows over or around a terrain obstacle 34313.2 Orographically trapped cold-air surges 34613.3 Lee vortices 35113.4 Gap flows 358PART V Appendix 367A Radar and Its Applications 369A.1 Radar basics 369A.2 Doppler radar principles 371A.3 Applications 374References 389Index 399