WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
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Meteorology
 
  introduction
 
  air masses, fronts
 
  clouds, precipitation
 
  el nino
 
  forces, winds
 
  hurricanes
 
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  light, optics
 
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> severe storms
 
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Severe Storms
 
  introduction
 
  dangers of t-storms
 
  types of t-storms
 
> tstorm components
 
  tornadoes
 
  modeling

Tstorm Components
 
  introduction
 
  updrafts/downdrafts
 
> wind shear
 
  outflow phenomena
 
  wall clouds

Wind Shear
 
> introduction
 
  convection

User Interface
 
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> text

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Vertical Wind Shear
change of winds with height

Vertical wind shear is the second critical factor in the determination of thunderstorm type and potential storm severity. Vertical shear, or the change of winds with height, interacts dynamically with thunderstorms to either enhance or diminish vertical draft strengths.

[Image: storms in strongly sheared environment (60K)]
Photograph by: Moller

Looking north from about 15 miles, we see a storm embedded in strong vertical shear. Upper level winds near cloud summit were blowing from west to east (left to right) at 130 MPH. Surface winds were from the south at 20 MPH, indicating over 100 MPH of shear through the cloud layer! Such vertical shear often destroys all but the strongest storms by literally blowing the updraft away from its base. This nearly occurred in this case, as noted by the storm's severely tilted updraft. (It must be emphasized that cloud tilt is not always due to winds which increase in velocity with increasing height. Strong low-level winds beneath light upper-level winds will cause a cloud to slope over as the base is pushed away from the cloud tower.) Oddly, vertical shear, where winds increase or change direction with height serves to enhance rather than weaken the strongest storms, through wind removal of precipitation from the updraft summit, and in some cases introduction of updraft rotation.

[Image: storms in weakly shear environment (49K)]
Photograph by: Moller

Thunderstorms which occur in weak vertical wind shear usually have an erect appearance. These storms don't last as long as strong storms in a sheared environment since the rainy downdraft quickly undercuts and chokes off the updraft. If any severe weather occurs with these weak-shear storms, it will be brief, occurring just prior to dissipation. Weak-shear severe storms are often called "pulse storms." (Looking southeast from 20 miles.)



Updrafts/Downdrafts
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

convection