The impact of variations of low-level structure associated with surface
drag on intensification of simulated tornadoes
Abstract
The low-level structure is critical to transformation of low-level
vorticity, which is known to be the fundamental source of rotation in
updraft, and hence impact the intensification of tornadoes. Multiple
convergence boundaries have been observed and simulated within surface
drag by recent studies, suggesting that tornado development can occur
away from the main convergence boundary separating the outflow and
ambient inflow. How these variations of low-level structure under effect
of surface drag contribute to long lived tornadoes are not well
understood. In addition, differences in tornado intensity across
different environments may yield different sensitivities to the
underlying surface roughness. In this study, two environmental soundings
representative of high CAPE, shallow CIN and low cape, deep CIN,
respectively, are used to initialize the idealized simulation with the
Bryan Cloud Model (CM1), and simulation with different surface drag
strength with semi-sip boundary conditions are performed. Results of the
simulations show that the inclusion of surface drag substantially alters
the low-level structure in several minutes, resulting in stronger
vorticity near surface and greater curvature of the convergence
boundary. With the increase of surface drag, the tornado develops away
from the forward convergence boundary due to the stronger angular
momentum of the vortex and weaker ambient inflow. The rotating updraft
tends to tilt to the area with greater convergence. The increasing
distance beyond certain threshold between the relative location of
tornado and convergence boundary indicates enhanced separation of
maximum vorticity and maximum positive vertical pressure gradient,
resulting in stronger vorticity near surface but slightly transport
upward. The trajectory analysis demonstrates that, in drag conditions,
most parcels travel through the rear flank downdraft area and merge to
the rotating updraft, which intensifies the tilting of horizontal
vorticity in that area and form the secondary convergence boundary. The
low CAPE and deeper level of CIN require more dynamical vertical
pressure gradient force associated with the magnitude of convergence
from the low-level boundary and hence are more sensitive to the increase
of surface drag.