Momentum and mass transport by convective bands: comparisons of highly idealized dynamical models to observations

Abstract

The effects of quasi-two-dimensional convective bands on the environmental flow are investigated by comparing the observed mass and momentum fluxes and horizontal pressure changes to those predicted by the Moncrieff archetypal model (M92). The model idealizes the organized convection as two-dimensional and steady state, with three flow branches - a front-to-rear jump updraft, a front overturning updraft, and a rear overturning current, which can be an updraft or a downdraft. Flow through the branches satisfies mass continuity and Bernoulli's equation. The vertical divergence of line-normal momentum flux averaged over the volume is constrained to be zero. Coriolis and buoyancy effects are neglected. The model predicts the vertical mass flux, the vertical divergence of the vertical flux of line-normal momentum, and the pressure change across the line (independent of height). A simple equation for the vertical transport of line-parallel momentum follows from the model assumptions. -from Authors