A Formula for the Maximum Vertical Velocity in Supercell Updrafts

• DOI: 10.1175/jas-d-20-0103.1
• Publication Date: 2020-08-17T20:24:36Z
• Authors: John M. Peters; Hugh Morrison; Christopher J. No...; Jake P. Mulholland; Richard L. Thompson
• Keywords: Supercell; Entrainment (biomusicology); Vertical velocity

Abstract In supercell environments, previous authors have shown strong connections between the vertical wind shear magnitude, updraft width, and entrainment. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that influences of entrainment-driven dilution buoyancy maximum velocity w in environments are a predictable function profile. It also pressure perturbation forces small because nearly complete offset upward dynamic downward buoyant forces. To address hypotheses, we derive formula for incorporates effects but neglects gradient Solutions to this compared with output from numerical simulations. This substantially improves predictions over past CAPE-derived formulas , which supports first hypothesis. Furthermore, integrated accelerations along trajectories show substantial offsets forces, supporting second argued new should be used addition measures forecast research applications when accurate diagnosis speed required.