The Precipitation Life Cycle of Mesoscale Convective Complexes over the Central United States

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Abstract
The mesoscale convective complex (MCC) is a common and particularly well-organized class of meso-&α scale storm systems over the central United States. As observed by infrared (IR) satellite, the typical MCC's 10–12 h evolution displays a fairly consistent sequence of events, including the monotonic areal expansion of its anvil from its formation to its maximum size, followed by the monotonic shrinkage of the colder cloud top areas as the system weakens and dissipates. Primarily within the growth phase of this cycle, a characteristic IR signature reflects the MCC in its most intense, mesoconvective stage, which lasts ∼4 h and during which the coldest cloud top area reaches its largest extent. Hourly precipitation data have been analyzed for 122 MCC cases that were selected from June–August 1977–83 and screened to insure a reasonable conformity with the typical IR life cycle. On average. these systems produced a rainfall volume of 3.46 km 3 during their life cycle, over an area of 3.20×105km2and a... Abstract The mesoscale convective complex (MCC) is a common and particularly well-organized class of meso-&α scale storm systems over the central United States. As observed by infrared (IR) satellite, the typical MCC's 10–12 h evolution displays a fairly consistent sequence of events, including the monotonic areal expansion of its anvil from its formation to its maximum size, followed by the monotonic shrinkage of the colder cloud top areas as the system weakens and dissipates. Primarily within the growth phase of this cycle, a characteristic IR signature reflects the MCC in its most intense, mesoconvective stage, which lasts ∼4 h and during which the coldest cloud top area reaches its largest extent. Hourly precipitation data have been analyzed for 122 MCC cases that were selected from June–August 1977–83 and screened to insure a reasonable conformity with the typical IR life cycle. On average. these systems produced a rainfall volume of 3.46 km 3 during their life cycle, over an area of 3.20×105km2and a...
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