Research work · 1986
Mesoscale Convective Complexes in the Middle Latitudes
Robert A. Maddox, Kenneth W. Howard, Diana L. Bartels, Dennis M. Rodgers
American Meteorological Society eBooks
Abstract
A type of large, long-lived convective weather system that frequently occurs over middle latitudes of the United States was identified, and discussed by Maddox (1980), Fritsch and Maddox (1981), Fritsch et al . (1981), Bosart and Sanders (1981), Wetzel et al . (1983), and Maddox (1983). It is termed Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC). The satellite images in Fig. 17.1 show the infrared enhancement temperatures from two MCCs over central portions of the United States. The definition employed by Maddox (1980) to identify an MCC used characteristics observable in satellite imagery (Table 17.1); internal structural characteristics are not addressed by the definition. The criteria were selected to identify very large and long-lived MCCs that could be studied by utilizing routine synoptic upper-air and surface observations. An extensive climatology of convective systems (Bartels et al . 1984) indicates that smaller mesoscale systems occur much more frequently than the larger MCCs discussed here. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.