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Experimental Modelling Of Downburst And Downburst Line Outflows, Kyle Graat

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The outflow velocity vector fields of simulated stationary thunderstorm downbursts and downburst lines were resolved in two plane orientations, vertical and horizontal, using a dense fluid release system and Particle Image Velocimetry. Single event releases were scaled to show agreement with past studies based on radial velocity magnitude and location and radial and vertical front propagation. The vortex trajectory of a single event using the vortex aspect ratio supported density's role in the outflow after the time and location of the maximum radial velocity. The interaction between two release events varied temporally and spatially and showed that the interaction region's …