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Comparison of tropical and midlatitude thunderstorm characteristics anchored in thermodynamic and dynamic aspects

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Abstract

Thunderstorms prevailing over tropics and midlatitudes depict dissimilar features relating to the thermodynamic and dynamic aspects. The identification of the physical characteristics of the tropical and midlatitude thunderstorms is the main objective of the present study. The stations Kolkata (22.6°N, 88.4°E) and Denver (39.47°N, 104.32°W) are selected from the tropics and midlatitudes for the comparative analyses. The study reveals that the average storm relative helicity (SRH) and the lapse rate between 700 and 500 hPa level is much higher over Denver compared to Kolkata during thunderstorm days. The study further reveals that the surface to mid troposphere (upto 500 hPa) become drier (∼2 times) over Denver than Kolkata prior to the occurrence of thunderstorms while the upper tropospheric (300–100 hPa) humidity remains comparable for both the locations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India

    Sutapa Chaudhuri & Anirban Middey

  2. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Calcutta, 51/2, Hazra Road, Kolkata, 700019, India

    Sutapa Chaudhuri

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  1. Sutapa Chaudhuri
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  2. Anirban Middey
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Correspondence to Sutapa Chaudhuri.

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Chaudhuri, S., Middey, A. Comparison of tropical and midlatitude thunderstorm characteristics anchored in thermodynamic and dynamic aspects. Asia-Pacific J Atmos Sci 50, 179–189 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-014-0006-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-014-0006-9

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