A study of the tornadic region within a supercell thunderstorm.

Abstract

Numerous features of the simulated transition bear resemblance to those observed in tornadic storms. In the model simulation, the large low-level vorticity is generated through the tilting and intense stretching of air from the inflow side of the storm. This vertical vorticity is derived from the horizontal vorticity of the environmental shear and also from horizontal vorticity generated solenoidally as low-level air approaches the storm along the forward flank cold outflow boundary. Intensification of the rear flank downdraft during the occluding phase is dynamically driven by the strong low-level circulation.-from Authors