A composite model of mesoscale convective complexes

Abstract

The early stage of the MCC lifecycle is characterized by convergence, vertical motion and heating being centered in the lower troposphere. As the MCC matures the level of peak upward motion and heating shifts to the upper troposphere. The system achieves and maintains is maximum divergence, upward motion, and anticyclonic vorticity in the upper troposphere during the latter half of the life cycle. The MCC is shown to be an efficient rain producer, exhibiting a precipitation efficiency exceeding 100% at the mature stage due to the accumulation of water substance in the stratiform anvil cloud during the earlier, predominantly convective stages of the system. -from Authors