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Titel |
Numerical study of tracers transport by a mesoscale convective system over West Africa |
VerfasserIn |
C. Barthe, C. Mari, J.-P. Chaboureau, P. Tulet, F. Roux, J.-P. Pinty |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
0992-7689
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Annales Geophysicae ; 29, no. 5 ; Nr. 29, no. 5 (2011-05-03), S.731-747 |
Datensatznummer |
250017009
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/angeo-29-731-2011.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
A three-dimensional cloud-resolving model is used to investigate the vertical
transport from the lower to the upper troposphere in a mesoscale convective
system (MCS) that occurred over Niger on 15 August 2004. The redistribution
of five passive tracers initially confined in horizontally homogeneous layers
is analyzed. The monsoon layer tracer (0–1.5 km) is the most efficiently
transported in the upper troposphere with concentrations 3 to 4 times higher
than the other tracers in the anvil. On the contrary the African Easterly Jet
tracer (~3 km) has the lowest contribution above 5 km. The vertical
profiles of the mid-troposphere tracers (4.5–10 km) in the MCS exhibit two
peaks: one in their initial layers, and the second one at 13–14 km altitude,
underlying the importance of mid-tropospheric air in feeding the upper
troposphere. Mid-tropospheric tracers also experience efficient transport by
convective downdrafts with a consequent increase of their concentrations at
the surface. The concentration of the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere
tracer exhibits strong gradients at the edge of the cloud, meaning almost no
entrainment of this tracer into the cloud. No downward transport from the
upper troposphere is simulated below 5 km. A proxy for lightning produced
NOx is transported preferentially in the forward anvil in the upper
troposphere. Additionally, lateral inflows significantly contribute to the
updraft and downdraft airflows emphasizing the three-dimensional structure of
the West African MCSs. |
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