In this article, we focus on one case study from the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS), which took place in north-eastern France and south-western Germany during the summer of 2007, in a low mountain area. We investigate lee side precipitation due to shallow and deep convection during one Intensive Observation Period (IOP) of COPS which have been well documented by all the instruments. For that aim, we use a set of observations from radars, radiosoundings, satellite, and a network of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, as well as meteorological analyses and dedicated model simulation results. The combination of these measurements with GPS tomography results suggests the role of low level water vapour accumulation and convergence as a precursor to the convective initiation. The origin of this moistening and wind convergence seems to be linked to a slight change in the wind direction in the north-west part of the COPS domain. Using a high resolution X band radar, we also describe how small scale orography affects the precipitation locations, and we show the role of hills near the mouths of the valleys in convective enhancement. This observation is confirmed by model simulation showing that convection is no longer enhanced when the hills are suppressed. The further intensification of one convective cell over the Rhine Valley, which is climatologically frequent, is also discussed.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Precipitation on the lee side of the Vosges Mountains: Multi-instrumental study of one case from the COPS campaign


    Contributors:
    Labbouz, L. (author) / van Baelen, Joel (author) / Tridon, F. (author) / Reverdy, M. (author) / Hagen, Martin (author) / Bender, M. (author) / Dick, Galina (author) / Gorgas, Theresa (author) / Planche, Celine (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2013



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    German




    Cockle cops

    Online Contents | 2014


    Die Feldmesskampagne COPS

    Behrendt, Andreas / Wulfmeyer, Volker / Kottmeier, Christoph et al. | German Aerospace Center (DLR) | 2007

    Free access

    Stops for Cops

    Rizzo, Matthew / Shi, Qian / Dawson, Jeffrey D. et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2005


    Orographic Influence on the Life Cycle of Convection – Observations during the COPS Field Campaign

    Hagen, Martin / van Baelen, Joel / Richard, Evelyne | German Aerospace Center (DLR) | 2008

    Free access

    Development of ice particles in convective clouds observed over the Black Forest mountains during COPS

    Huang, Yahui / Blyth, Alan M. / Brown, Philip R. A. et al. | German Aerospace Center (DLR) | 2011

    Free access