Characterization of the life cycle of convection from initiation to decay on the basis of case study from July, 15th 2007

Abstract

The life cycle of convection from its initiation to the decay is described in detail for a case study on July, 15th 2007 during the COPS (Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study) campaign. The convective initiation on July, 15th is identified for the time step 14:30 – 14:40 UTC. In this time interval the brightness temperature of the MSG rapid scan data at 10.8 µm changed significantly (<-4 K/min) while radar reflectivity reaches values over 35 dBZ and lightning activity starts (first event at 14:34 UTC). To assess the dynamic evolution during the mature state of the cell wind field was estimated by using dual doppler method. Therefore the radar data from the DLR POLDIRAD and the Feldberg radar were combined. To investigate microphysical processes different types of hydrometeors were classified by using polarimetric information of the DLR radar POLDIRAD. In combination with 3D- lightning data, provided by the European lightning network LINET, the electrical activity of the cells were reconstructed. The decay process appears slower and less pronounced than the initiation process. Last lightning event was observed at 14:45 UTC while radar reflectivity decreases to values below 35 dBZ until 15:40 UTC and the brightness temperature remains below 250 K until 16:30 UTC.