Wide Horizontal Convective Rolls over Land

Abstract

Abstract Horizontal convective rolls (HCRs) with aspect ratios ≥ 5, called wide HCRs, are observed over land from WSR-88D radar reflectivity observations in clear air over central Oklahoma. Results indicate that wide HCRs are a natural part of the daily HCR life cycle, occurring most frequently from 1500 to 1700 UTC and from 2300 to 2400 UTC, with the HCRs having aspect ratios ∼ 3 during the rest of their lifetime. Wide HCRs are most likely to be observed from HCRs with lifetimes longer than 5 h. Results show that for HCRs lasting for more than 5 h, 12% have aspect ratios ≥ 5 during HCR formation, whereas 50% of have aspect ratios ≥ 5 at dissipation. An evaluation of radar observations from 50 cases of long-lived HCRs suggests the wide HCRs that occur in tandem with HCR formation early in the day develop in situ with a large aspect ratio. In contrast, the cases of wide HCRs that form late in the day most often appear to develop as specific HCR wavelengths are maintained while roll circulations with smaller wavelengths dissipate. These ephemeral wide HCRs over land deserve attention as the mechanisms leading to their formation are unclear. Significance Statement The atmospheric boundary layer extends from the ground up to a typical daytime height between 500 m and 3 km. Within this layer, the flow is often turbulent during the daytime, although there are common structures that help to organize the flow patterns. One of these structures is a field of horizontal counterrotating helical circulations, with parallel upwelling and downwelling zones. This study shows that the separation distance between these long parallel lines of upward and downward motion changes during the day and can be quite large when compared to the depth of the boundary layer, both early in the day and late in the day. Reasons for this behavior are unclear and deserve attention, as the boundary layer is where we spend our lives and has a large influence on our daily activities.