Environment Associated with Deep Moist Convection under SALLJ Conditions: A Case Study

Author(s)

Borque, Paloma ^[1] ; Salio, Paola ^{[1, 2]} ; Nicolini, Matilde ^{[1, 2]} ; Garcia Skabar, Yanina ^{[3, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Buenos Aires, FCEN, Dept Ciencias Atmosfera & Oceanos, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[2] Univ Buenos Aires, CONICET, Ctr Invest Mar & Atmosfera, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[3] Univ Buenos Aires, Natl Weather Serv, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[4] Univ Buenos Aires, Fac Agron, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WEATHER AND FORECASTING; v. 25, n. 3, p. 970-984, JUN 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

The present work focuses on the study of the environmental conditions preceding the development of a group of subtropical mesoscale convective systems over central and northern Argentina on 6-7 February 2003 during the South American Low Level Jet Experiment. This period was characterized by an extreme northerly low-level flow along the eastern Andes foothills {[}South American low-level jet (SALLJ)]. The entire studied episode was dominated by the presence of a very unstable air mass over northern Argentina and a frontal zone near 40 degrees S. The SALLJ generated an important destabilization of the atmosphere due to the strong humidity and differential temperature advection. Orography provided an extra lifting motion to the configuration of the regional wind field, which was efficient in forcing the initiation of convection. Once convection developed, it moved and regenerated in regions where the convective instability was horizontally homogeneous and stronger. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 01/13816-1 - Brazilian component of the South American low level jet east of the Andes field experiment: interaction in meso and large scale between the Amazon and La Plata River Basins
• Grantee: Jose Antonio Marengo Orsini
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants