Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Date of this Version
Fall 12-2015
Document Type
Article
Citation
Riganti, C. J., 2015: Rear-Flank Outflow Dynamics and Thermodynamics in the 10 June 2010 Last Chance, Colorado Supercell. M.S. Thesis, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Abstract
On 10 June 2010, the second Verification of the Origins of Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) armada observed the non-tornadic phase of a supercell thunderstorm near Last Chance, Colorado. Tempest unmanned aircraft system (UAS) data collected in the rear-flank outflow revealed what appeared to be an elevated outflow head, turbulent wake, and a cold secondary outflow surge. Surface thermodynamic and kinematic data collected by StickNets and mobile mesonets suggested that the outflow wake may have extended to or very near the surface, perhaps cutting off the leading edge of the outflow at times. Single-Doppler data collected by the NOAA X-Pol Mobile Polarimetric Doppler Radar (NOXP) were supportive of the possibility of a downdraft in the outflow wake being driven by low-level divergence. A conceptual model of the hypothesized rear-flank outflow structure in the non-tornadic phase of the Last Chance supercell is presented. A comparison of the secondary cold outflow surge to previously observed rear-flank internal surges is also presented.
Adviser: Adam L. Houston
Comments
A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Under the Supervision of Professor Adam L. Houston. Lincoln, Nebraska: November, 2015
Copyright (c) 2015 Curtis J. Riganti