Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Observational And Modeling Study Of Mesoscale Airmasses With High Theta-E, Lawrence Wolfgang Hanft

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Typically, the cool side of an airmass boundary is stable to vertical motions due to its associated negative buoyancy. However, under certain conditions, the air on the cool side of the boundary can undergo a transition wherein it assumes an equivalent potential temperature and surface-based convective available potential energy that is higher than that of the airmass on the warm side of the boundary. The resultant airmass is herein referred to as a mesoscale airmass with high theta-e (MAHTE).

Results are presented from an observational and mesoscale modeling study designed to examine MAHTE characteristics and the processes responsible for MATHE …