Climatology and dynamics of the link between dry intrusions and cold fronts during winter, Part II: Front-centred perspective.

ABSTRACT: The conceptual picture of an extratropical cyclone typically includes a cold front and a dry intrusion (DI) behind it. By objectively identifying fronts and DIs in ECMWF ERA-Interim data for 1979-2014, Part I quantified the climatological relationship between cold fronts and DIs. Driven by the finding that front intensity and frontal precipitation are enhanced in the presence of DIs, here we employ a front-centred perspective to focus on the dynamical and thermodynamical environment of cold fronts with and without DIs in the Northern Hemisphere winter. Distinguishing between trailing fronts (that connect to a parent cyclone) and isolated fronts, examples of DIs behind each type illustrate the baroclinic environment of the trailing front, and the lack of strong temperature gradients across

SUBMITTER: Raveh-Rubin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6647394 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature