Abstract
Data from the SESAME storm-scale network are used in computing the momentum budget of the prestorm, storm, and poststorm environment of a severe storm complex. In the prestorm period geostrophic flow dominates the environment. With progression into the storm period all terms in the momentum equation become important, as a significant ageostrophic component in the momentum field develops. Turbulent effects are estimated as a residual, and the results indicate that they are comparable in magnitude to the other terms. Their effect is to decrease the positive momentum, particularly at levels above 500 mbar, where the vertical motion is the strongest. Vertical profiles of area means ofu andv indicate that the storm is apparently redistributing momentum downwards, thus reducing the mean shear. In the poststorm period the flow once again becomes largely geostrophic, and a maximum in wind speed reappears at upper levels.
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Fox, D.J., Sikdar, D.N. Meso-β-scale momentum budget of an evolving severe storm complex during SESAME AVE-V. PAGEOPH 122, 110–123 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879652
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879652