Mesoscale-Convective Processes in the Atmosphere

This new textbook seeks to promote a deep yet accessible understanding of mesoscale-convective processes in the atmosphere. Mesoscale-convective processes are commonly manifested in the form of thunderstorms, which are fast evolving, inherently hazardous, and can assume a broad range of sizes and severity. Modern explanations of the convective-storm dynamics, and of the related development of tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds and heavy rainfall, are provided. Students and weather professionals will benefit especially from unique chapters devoted to observations and measurements of mesoscale phenomena, mesoscale prediction and predictability, and dynamical feedbacks between mesoscale-convective processes and larger-scale motions.

1. The atmospheric mesoscale; 2. Theoretical foundations; 3. Observations and mesoscale data analysis; 4. Mesoscale numerical modeling; 5. The initiation of deep convective clouds; 6. Elemental convective processes; 7. Supercells: a special class of long-lived rotating convective storms; 8. Mesoscale convective systems; 9. Interactions and feedbacks; 10. Mesoscale predictability and prediction.