Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of the level of downdraft formation during severe thunderstorms: a frequency domain analysis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study aimed at identifying the level of pressure at which cloud droplets break up or split, leading to downdraft formation, during severe thunderstorms of the pre-monsoon season (April–May) over Kolkata (22°32′, 88°20′) was carried out. To this end, frequency domain analyses were used to compute Fourier line spectra. The parameters maximum droplet radius and the upward velocity were considered to be the entries to the time-series analysis. The results obtained using this spectral approach, which represent a component of the frequency-domain time-series analyses, were quantitatively validated utilizing probabilistic and Taylor series considerations. The results reveal that 700 hPa is the critical level for the initiation of the splitting of the cloud droplets and, consequently, the downdraft during severe thunderstorms of pre-monsoon season over Kolkata. However, the results also indicate that during severe thunderstorms accompanied by hail, the downdraft level may occur at a lower pressure level or higher altitude.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chaudhuri S, Aich Bhowmik S (2006) CAPE—a link between thermodynamics and microphysics for the occurrence of severe thunderstorms, Mausam. Q J Meteorol Hydrol Geophys 57(2):249–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Houze AR Jr (1993) Cloud dynamics. Academic Press, New York

  • Katz RW (1977) An application of chain-dependent processes to meteorology. J Appl Probab 14:598–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler E (ed) (1988) Instrument and technique for thunderstorm observation & analysis. In: Thunderstorms: a social scientific and technological documentary, vol 3. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman

  • Mull S, Mitra H, Kulshrestha SM (1963) Tropical thunderstorms and radar echoes. Ind J Met Geophys 14:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Panofsky HA, Brier GW (1958) Some applications of statistics to meteorology. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park

  • Pruppacher HR, Klett JD (1980) Microphysics of clouds and precipitation. D. Reidel Publ, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson CW (1981) Stochastic simulation of daily precipitation, temperature, and solar radiation. Water Resour Res 17:182–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers RR, Yau MK (1995) Initiation of rain in the nonfreezing clouds. Short courses in cloud physics. Pergamon Press, Oxford

  • Sohoni VV (1928) Thunderstorms of Calcutta (1900–1926). India Meteorol Dept Sci Notes 1:25–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilks DS (1995) Statistical methods in atmospheric sciences. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilks DS (1999) Interannual variability and extreme-value characteristics of several stochastic daily precipitation models. Agric For Meteorol 93:153–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams ER (1995) Meteorological aspects of thunderstorm. In: Volland H (ed) Handbook on atmospheric electrodynamics, vol 1. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 27–60

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author thanks the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for financial assistance in conducting the research. The author gratefully acknowledges the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions, which resulted in a more accurate and complete presentation of the work. The author is also grateful to Urmi Chaudhuri for cooperation and inspiration.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Calcutta, 51/2 Hazra Road, Kolkata, 700 019, India

    Sutapa Chaudhuri

Authors
  1. Sutapa Chaudhuri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sutapa Chaudhuri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chaudhuri, S. Identification of the level of downdraft formation during severe thunderstorms: a frequency domain analysis. Meteorol Atmos Phys 102, 123–129 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-008-0014-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-008-0014-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation