Thunderstorms with Snow: A Comprehensive, Empirical Study of Their Occurrence, Development and Structure.

• Main Author: Elkins, Harold A
• Other Authors: AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1987
• Subjects: Atmospheric Physics; Meteorology; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *SNOW; *THUNDERSTORMS; *CLOUD PHYSICS; AIR; CYCLONES; LIFE CYCLES; LOW TEMPERATURE; ATMOSPHERIC MOTION; TEMPERATE REGIONS; ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY; AIR FLOW; THESES; Midlatitude cyclones; *Snowstorms; Cold air; *Atmospheric models; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA185929; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA185929

A comprehensive, empirical study was undertaken to outline the characteristics of thunderstorms with snow. Occurrences are documented over a 17 year period (1971-87) and related to the development of mid-latitude cyclones. Emphasis is placed on the role of cold air motion as an integral part of the cyclone life cycle. Data indicates a cyclonic and anticyclonic tendency of the air depending on the stage of development. It also suggests the occlusion may not contain warm sector air. In order to understand the electrification process in a snowstorm the cloud physical microscale precipitation processes are analyzed. These are quantified and related back to the synoptic scale. From this, a conceptual model is created illustrating the structure of a thunderstorm with snow and is used to discuss the possible development.