Mesoscale Convective Complex

Mesoscale Convective Complex RSS Feed
(Abbreviated MCC.) A subset of mesoscale convective systems (MCS) that exhibit a large, circular (as observed by satellite), long-lived, cold cloud shield. The cold cloud shield must exhibit the following physical characteristics. Size: A - Cloud shield with continuously low infrared (IR) temperature ≤ -32°C must have an area ≥ 105 km2; and B - Interior cold cloud region with temperature ≤ -52°C must have an area ≥ 0.5 X 105 km2. Initiate: Size definitions A and B are first satisfied Duration: Size definitions A and B must be met for a period ≥ 6 h. Maximum extent: Contiguous cold cloud shield (IR temperature ≤ -33°C) reaches maximum size. Shape: Eccentricity (minor axis/major axis) ≥ 0.7 at time of maximum extent. Terminate: Size definitions A and B no longer satisfied. Alternatively, a dynamical definition of an MCC requires that the system have a Rossby number of order 1 and exhibit a horizontal scale comparable to the Rossby radius of deformation. In midlatitude MCS environments, the Rossby radius of deformation is about 300 km.

You Might Also Be Interested In

Filter By

Content type