A case study of gravity waves- convective storms interaction: 9 May 1979.

Abstract

An analysis is presented of a series of severe storms which occurred in the north central US on 9 May 1979 and whose spatial distribution and movement correlate well with observed gravity waves. Two gravity wave trains of 2.1-3 mb amplitude, 2.5-3.3 h period and 240-265 km horizontal wavelength were isolated through power spectra analyis and cross-correlation techniques applied to National Weather Service barograph traces. The wave trains propagated in the 200o direction, which coincided with the jet axis, with a phase velocity of 20-30 m s-1 and within a 300 km wide band.-from Authors