The Simulation of Three-Dimensional Convective Storm Dynamics

TLDR

The study investigates the influence of one‑directional shear on convective storm development. A new three‑dimensional cloud model solves the compressible equations of motion with a splitting procedure, incorporates a time‑dependent turbulence energy equation, first‑order closure, open lateral boundaries, and Kessler‑type microphysics to simulate convective storms. Simulations show that in an unsheared environment updrafts follow a moist adiabatic lapse rate and are damped by water loading, while veering and backing wind profiles produce double vortex circulation, cell splitting, and secondary cell formation.

Abstract

A new three-dimensional cloud model has been developed for investigating the dynamic character of convective storms. This model solves the compressible equations of motion using a splitting procedure which provides numerical efficiency by treating the sound wave modes separately. For the subgrid turbulence processes, a time-dependent turbulence energy equation is solved which depends on local buoyancy, shear and dissipation. First-order closure is applied to nearly conservative variables with eddy coefficients based on the computed turbulence energy. Open lateral boundaries are incorporated in the model that respond to internal forcing and permit gravity waves to propagate out of the integration domain with little apparent reflection. Microphysical processes are included in the model using a Kessler-type parameterization. Simulations conducted for an unsheared environment reveal that the updraft temperatures follow a moist adiabatic lapse rate and that the convection is dissipated by water loading of the updraft. The influence of a one-directional shear on the storm development is also investigated. A simulation with a veering and backing wind profile exhibits interesting features which include a double vortex circulation, cell splitting and, secondary cell formation.