Observed and numerically simulated structure of a mature supercell thunderstorm ( Del City, Oklahoma).

Abstract

Through the interactive use of Doppler-radar analyses and a three-dimensional numerical storm simulation the detailed structure of a supercell, tornadic storm is analyzed. This storm, named the Del City storm, occurred in central Oklahoma on 20 May 1977. The storm exhibits certain important features which are essential to maintaining its longevity and which promote the storm's transition to its tornadic phase. The similarities in structure between the observed and simulated storm suggest that the larger scale environment plays a dominant role in structuring many of the detailed features of the storm.-from Authors National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307.