Publication Date

12-8-2019

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Gensini, Victor

Degree Name

B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Geography

Abstract

Tornadogenesis in supercell thunderstorms has been a heavily studied topic by the atmospheric science community for several decades. However, the reasons why some supercells produce tornadoes, while others in similar environments and with similar characteristics do not, remains poorly understood. For this study, tornadogenesis failure is defined as a supercell appearing capable of tornado production, both visually and by meeting a vertically contiguous differential velocity (∆V) threshold, without producing a sustained tornado. Data from a supercell that appeared capable of tornadogenesis, but which failed to produce a sustained tornado, was collected by the Atmospheric Imaging Radar (the AIR, a high temporal resolution radar) near Denver, CO on 21 May 2014. These data were examined to explore the mechanisms of tornadogenesis failure within supercell thunderstorms. Analysis was performed on the rear-flank downdraft (RFD) region and mesocyclone, as previous work highlights the importance of these supercell features in tornadogenesis. The results indicate a lack of vertical continuity in rotation between the lowest level of data analyzed (100 m AGL), and heights aloft (> 500 m AGL). A relative maximum in low-level ∆V occurred at approximately 100 m AGL (0.5° in elevation on the radar) around the time of suspected tornadogenesis failure. This area of low-level rotation was unable to maintain a sustained connection with more intense ∆V patterns observed in the mesocyclone (> 2 km AGL). Additionally, the RFD produced by the Denver Supercell had a peak in intensity between approximately 3 and 3.5 km AGL just prior to the time of tornadogenesis failure, while simultaneously experiencing a relative minimum in intensity in the layer between the surface and 1 km.

Additional Files
CAPSTONE_2019_Final_Paper (12-2019 Update).pdf (5065 kB)
Main Paper (4.946Mb)
Capstone Title Page & Faculty Approval Letter.pdf (696 kB)
Capstone Title Page and Signed Faculty Approval Letter (696.7Kb)
Honors Capstone Abstract.pdf (189 kB)
Abstract Page (189.4Kb)

Extent

12 Pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Image||Text

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