Meteorology 2603
Severe and Unusual Weather
Problem Set #3
Distributed Monday, 12 March 2001
Due Monday, 26 March 2001
(All problems are worth the same number of points)
1. Plot the following data on the graph provided to create a wind hodograph. Label the altitude of each wind observation next to the point.
Altitude
(km) |
Wind
Speed (m/s) |
Wind
Direction (degrees) |
0 |
7 |
100 |
1 |
13 |
120 |
2 |
16 |
135 |
3 |
18 |
160 |
4 |
20 |
170 |
5 |
15 |
190 |
6 |
15 |
210 |
7 |
22 |
220 |
8 |
23 |
235 |
9 |
20 |
240 |
10 |
24 |
245 |
11 |
27 |
270 |
12 |
28 |
290 |
2. For the following storm motions applied to the hodograph that you drew in Problem #1, determine the sense (clockwise or counterclockwise) of rotation in the dominant thunderstorm updraft. Assume a sufficient amount of CAPE to produce and sustain a strong thunderstorm and BE SURE TO EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING.
a. Storm is not moving.
b. From 135 degrees at 16 m/s.
c. From 135 degrees at 30 m/s.
d. From 300 degrees at 15 m/s.
3. Which of the storms in Problem #2 would likely contain the updraft having the greatest degree of rotation? BE SURE TO EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING.
4. Plot the following data on the graph provided to create a wind hodograph. Label the altitude of each wind observation next to the point.
Altitude
(km) |
Wind
Speed (m/s) |
Wind
Direction (degrees) |
0 |
23 |
115 |
1 |
20 |
120 |
2 |
15 |
130 |
3 |
13 |
150 |
4 |
12 |
180 |
5 |
13 |
210 |
6 |
15 |
230 |
7 |
20 |
240 |
5. For the following storm motions applied to the hodograph that you drew in Problem #4, determine the sense (clockwise or counterclockwise) of updraft rotation. Assume a sufficient amount of CAPE to produce and sustain a strong thunderstorm and BE SURE TO EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING.
a. Storm is not moving.
b. From 180 degrees at 25 m/s.
c. From 115 degrees at 23 m/s.
6. Modify the hodograph in Problem #5, in a qualitative manner, to ensure a dominant right-moving storm, and DISCUSS THE BASIS FOR THIS MODIFICATION.