Date of Award
December 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Atmospheric Sciences
First Advisor
Matthew Gilmore
Abstract
Supercell simulations capable of resolving a tornado-like vortex (TLV) have typically ignored hydrometeor centrifuging, resulting in the unrealistic buildup of precipitation in the center of TLVs. To improve the realism of numerical simulations of supercells and their resulting TLVs, an algorithm to parameterize bulk hydrometeor centrifuging was incorporated into an idealized cloud model. Simple idealized vortex simulations and simulations of supercells producing TLVs were analyzed to determine the impacts of hydrometeor centrifuging on numerically simulated supercells and TLVs. The inclusion of hydrometeor centrifuging does not appear to directly impact the intensity and duration of supercell spawned TLVs. Although precipitation minima developed in the center of the simulated TLVs, consistent with radar observations of tornadoes, no significant direct effects on simulated TLV intensity and duration were observed. For the parent simulated supercells, however, stronger updrafts and downdrafts were observed when hydrometeor centrifuging was included. It is possible that these changes to updraft and downdraft intensity could ultimately impact TLVs associated with the simulated supercells, but many more cases and ensemble simulations would be required to determine this.
Recommended Citation
Stenz, Ronald, "The Impacts Of Hydrometeor Centrifuging On Numerical Simulations Of Supercells And Tornado-Like Vortices" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 8248.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/8248