Formation of the enhanced-v infrared cloud-top feature from high-resolution three-dimensional radar observations

The responsible mechanism for the formation of the enhanced-V infrared cloud-top feature observed above tropopause-penetrating thunderstorms is not well understood. A new method for the combination of volumetric radar reflectivity from individual radars into three-dimensional composites with high vertical resolution (1 km) is introduced and used to test various formation mechanisms proposed in the literature. For analysis, a set of 89 enhanced-V storms over the eastern continental United States are identified in the 10-yr period from 2001 to 2010 using geostationary satellite data. The background atmospheric state from each storm is determined using the Interim ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) and radiosonde observations. In conjunction with the infrared temperature fields, analysis of the radar data in a coordinate relative to the location of the overshooting convective top and in altitudes relative to the tropopause suggests that above-anvil (stratospheric) cirrus clouds are the most likely mechanism for the formation of the enhanced V.

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Author Homeyer, Cameron
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2014-01-01T00:00:00
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2023-08-18T18:08:26.777264
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:13159
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Homeyer, Cameron. (2014). Formation of the enhanced-v infrared cloud-top feature from high-resolution three-dimensional radar observations. UCAR/NCAR - Library. http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7gf0vdp. Accessed 15 February 2025.

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