Examination of coupling between an upper-tropospheric cloud system and synoptic scale dynamics diagnosed from wind profiler and radiosonde data

Abstract

The evolution of synoptic-scale dynamics associated with a middle and upper tropospheric cloud event that occurred on 26 November 1991 is examined. Using data from the wind profiler demonstration network and a temporally and spatially augmented radiosonde array, emphasis is given to explaining the evolution of the kinematically derived ageostrophic vertical circulations and correlating the circulation with the forcing of an extensively sampled cloud field. The relationship between the large-scale dynamics and the parameterization of middle and upper tropospheric clouds in large-scale models is discussed, and an example of ice water contents derived from a parameterization forced by the diagnosed vertical motions and observed water vapor contents is presented.