WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
  welcome
 
> online guides
 
  archives
 
  educational cd-rom
 
  current weather
 
  about ww2010
 
  index

Online Guides
 
  introduction
 
> meteorology
 
  remote sensing
 
  reading maps
 
  projects, activities

Meteorology
 
  introduction
 
  air masses, fronts
 
  clouds, precipitation
 
  el nino
 
  forces, winds
 
  hurricanes
 
  hydrologic cycle
 
  light, optics
 
  midlatitude cyclones
 
> severe storms
 
  weather forecasting

Severe Storms
 
  introduction
 
  dangers of t-storms
 
> types of t-storms
 
  tstorm components
 
  tornadoes
 
  modeling

Types of T-storms
 
  storm spectrum
 
  single cell storms
 
> multicell clusters
 
  multicell lines
 
  supercells

Multicell Clusters
 
  introduction
 
> components
 
  development
 
  perspectives
 
  life cycle
 
  evolving storm

User Interface
 
  graphics
> text

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Components of Multicell Clusters
moderate dangers with some severe risk

[Image: radar image of mulicell storms (50K)] Radar (PPI mode) often reflects the multicell nature of these storms, as seen with the central echo mass and its three light red (in this case VIP 5) cores in this photo. Occasionally, a multicell storm will appear unicellular in a low-level radar scan, but will display several distinct tops when a tilt sequence is used to view the storm in its upper extremities.

The close proximity of updrafts within the multicell cluster storm results in updraft competition for the warm, moist low-level air. Thus, updrafts never attain extremely strong vertical velocities and each has a short life span when compared to a supercell updraft. Naturally, multicell severe weather usually is less intense than that from supercells, but still can be quite potent, with marble to golf ball size hail and 60 to 80 MPH winds not uncommon.

[Image: low-level horizontal cross section through multicell cluster (43K)]

This low-level, horizontal cross-section depicts a severe multicell storm or marginal supercell where the gust front typically has moved out ahead of and "undercut" the updraft area and possible wall cloud. Although the storm might well be severe, tornado production from the updraft/wall cloud area is unlikely.



introduction
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Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

development