Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2160
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2160
22 Aug 2024
 | 22 Aug 2024

Objectively identified mesoscale surface air pressure waves in the context of winter storm environments and radar reflectivity features: a 3+ year analysis

Luke R. Allen, Sandra E. Yuter, Matthew A. Miller, and Laura M. Tomkins

Abstract. Atmospheric gravity waves (i.e., buoyancy waves) can occur within stable layers when vertical oscillations are triggered by localized heating, flow over terrain, or imbalances in upper level flow. Case studies of winter storms have associated gravity waves with heavier surface snowfall, but the representativeness of those findings for settings without orographic precipitation has not been previously addressed.

To detect gravity waves, we deployed networks of high precision pressure sensors from January 2020 to April 2023 in and around Toronto, ON, Canada, and New York, NY, USA, two regions without strong topographic forcing. Pressure wave events were identified when at least 4 sensors in a network detected propagating pressure waves with wave periods ≤ 67 min, wavelengths ≤ 170 km, and amplitudes ≥ 0.45 hPa. We detected 33 pressure wave events across 40 months of data, of which 23 were gravity waves and the rest were frontal passages, outflow boundary passages, or a wake low.

Reanalysis model output and operational weather observations provided environmental context for each gravity wave event. Consistent with previous work, most gravity wave events occurred with strong upper-level flow imbalance to the south or west of their location. Of the 79 winter storms with snow that occurred over our 40 months of observations, only 6 had detectable gravity waves. For New York City, the typical offshore cyclone low center track means the metro area is usually in a location where gravity waves are not expected to occur.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Luke R. Allen, Sandra E. Yuter, Matthew A. Miller, and Laura M. Tomkins

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2160', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Sep 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2160', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Sep 2024
  • AC1: 'Author response on egusphere-2024-2160', Luke R. Allen, 13 Nov 2024
Luke R. Allen, Sandra E. Yuter, Matthew A. Miller, and Laura M. Tomkins

Data sets

Data for "Objectively identified mesoscale surface air pressure waves in the context of winter storm environments and radar reflectivity features: a 3+ year analysis" Luke Allen, Sandra Yuter, Laura Tomkins, and Matthew Miller https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11373040

Data for Objective identification of pressure wave events from networks of 1-Hz, high-precision sensors Matthew Miller and Luke Allen https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8136536

Video supplement

2023/04/01 KBUF radar 4-panel animation Luke R. Allen, Laura M. Tomkins, and Sandra E. Yuter https://doi.org/10.5446/67635

2021/02/18 KOKX radar 4-panel animation Luke R. Allen, Laura M. Tomkins, and Sandra E. Yuter https://doi.org/10.5446/67765

2023/04/05 KBUF radar 4-panel animation Luke R. Allen, Laura M. Tomkins, and Sandra E. Yuter https://doi.org/10.5446/67633

Luke R. Allen, Sandra E. Yuter, Matthew A. Miller, and Laura M. Tomkins

Viewed

Total article views: 247 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
190 40 17 247 5 5
  • HTML: 190
  • PDF: 40
  • XML: 17
  • Total: 247
  • BibTeX: 5
  • EndNote: 5
Views and downloads (calculated since 22 Aug 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 22 Aug 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 240 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 240 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 08 Dec 2024
Download
Short summary
Atmospheric gravity waves are air oscillations in which buoyancy is the restoring force, which can enhance precipitation production. We used 3+ seasons of pressure data to identify gravity waves with wavelengths ≤ 170 km in the Toronto and New York metropolitan areas in the context of snow storms. Of 79 snow events, only 6 had detectable gravity wave events, suggesting that gravity waves on the scales of typical radar reflectivity features are uncommon in those two locations during snow storms.