A Numerical Simulation of the Life History of a Rainstorm

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The life history of a rain shower has resulted from a numerical integration of the equations of motion, thermodynamics and water conservation. The model simulates the initiation and development of mountain cumuli. The effects of ambient winds, heating and evaporation at slopes and valley surfaces, cloud shadows, and a warm rain process are all simulated in a two-dimensional, non-steady-state numerical model. The region of integration extends in width and height to 10 km. Grid intervals in both the x and z directions are 100 m. Results show the initial organization of strong inflow with the coalescence of updrafts, the storage aloft of rain water, the spreading of the rain due to horizontal divergence aloft, the falling of rain appendages into the lower atmosphere and the cessation of organized inflow, the organization of the rain shaft, and a shower of approximately 7 mm depth. Abstract The life history of a rain shower has resulted from a numerical integration of the equations of motion, thermodynamics and water conservation. The model simulates the initiation and development of mountain cumuli. The effects of ambient winds, heating and evaporation at slopes and valley surfaces, cloud shadows, and a warm rain process are all simulated in a two-dimensional, non-steady-state numerical model. The region of integration extends in width and height to 10 km. Grid intervals in both the x and z directions are 100 m. Results show the initial organization of strong inflow with the coalescence of updrafts, the storage aloft of rain water, the spreading of the rain due to horizontal divergence aloft, the falling of rain appendages into the lower atmosphere and the cessation of organized inflow, the organization of the rain shaft, and a shower of approximately 7 mm depth.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: