Synoptic Climatology of Northwest Flow Snowfall in the Southern Appalachians
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SYNOPTIC CLIMATOLOGY OF NORTHWEST FLOW SNOWFALL IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS Lester Baker Perry A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Geography (Climatology). Chapel Hill 2006 Approved by Advisor: Charles E. Konrad, II Reader: Peter J. Robinson Reader: Thomas Whitmore Reader: Thomas W. Schmidlin Reader: Walter Martin © 2006 Lester Baker Perry ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT LESTER BAKER PERRY: Synoptic Climatology of Northwest Flow Snowfall in the Southern Appalachians (Under the direction of Charles E. Konrad, II) Snowfall in association with low-level winds out of the northwest is a common occurrence at higher elevations and along windward slopes in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These northwest flow snow (NWFS) events typically have low temperatures and considerable blowing and drifting snow. Due to the high degree of spatial variability of snowfall and limited ability of numerical models to predict these events, forecasting NWFS remains a challenge. This dissertation analyzes the synoptic climatology of NWFS events in the Southern Appalachians for the period 1950 to 2000. Hourly observations from first-order stations, daily snowfall data from cooperative observer stations, and National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data are utilized to identify NWFS events, defined here as snow events with 850 hPa northwest flow (270 to 360 degrees) at the hour of greatest snow extent. Atmospheric fields of temperature, wind, moisture, and associated variables are analyzed for heavy and light snowfalls separately by calculating composite field values and constructing composite plots of the synoptic patterns. The NOAA Hysplit Trajectory Tool is used to calculate 72-hour antecedent upstream air trajectories, and composite trajectories are mapped in a geographic information system (GIS). The sample of events in the trajectory analysis is limited to those with synoptic-scale subsidence, a frequent occurrence with NWFS. Analyses of vertical soundings are coupled with NCEP data to iii determine the synoptic characteristics associated with different air trajectories. Results indicate that NWFS accounts for as much as 56 percent of mean annual snowfall along the higher elevation windward slopes. Heavy NWFS events are tied to higher values of synoptic- scale ascent and relative humidity in the lower troposphere, as well as lower 500 hPa heights and longer event durations. Additionally, upstream air trajectories with a Great Lakes connection have higher composite mean areal and maximum point snowfall totals along the higher elevation windward slopes than other northwest trajectories. Little Great Lakes influence is noted at lower elevations and on leeward slopes. iv To Patience, Holden, and Chase v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Charles Konrad, Peter Robinson, Tom Whitmore, Walt Martin, and Tom Schmidlin provided excellent guidance in the design of this dissertation. Laurence Lee and Steve Keighton provided helpful advice at various stages of the research. Blair Holloway, Gary Lackmann, Kermit Keeter, and Michael Mayfield provided beneficial feedback on the preliminary results and suggestions for future research and Jim Young provided helpful cartographic advice. Lastly, Alice Weldon, Henry Perry, and James Harrison offered editorial assistance. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES .………………………………………………………………………….xi LIST OF FIGURES ………………………………………………………………………. xiii Chapter I INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………... 1 Research Context ……………………………………………………. 1 Background ………………………………………………………….. 3 Atmospheric Processes of Snowfall Development ………….. 3 Cloud microphysical processes ………….…………... 4 Lifting mechanisms …………….……………………. 9 Vertical Profiles of Moisture and Temperature ……. 12 Synoptic Patterns of Snowfall ……………………………… 17 Winter cyclones in the eastern U.S. ……..…………. 17 Favorable synoptic patterns for snowfall in the Southern Appalachians ….…………. 21 Inter-annual variability of snowfall …….………….. 26 Orographic and Mesoscale Processes ……………………… 29 Orographic snowfall …………………….………….. 30 Mesoscale topographic influences ………….……… 34 vii Lake-effect snow ………………………………….... 37 Memorable Snowy Periods in the Southern Appalachians ………… 39 February/March 1960 ………………………………………. 40 December 18-20, 2003 ……………………………………... 43 Research Design ……………………………………………………. 47 Research Questions ………………………………………… 47 Research Objectives …………………………………………48 II DATA AND METHODS ....……………………………………………….. 49 Introduction ………………………………………………………… 49 Study Area: Southern Appalachians ……………………………….. 49 Snowfall Data and Synoptic Fields ………………………………… 52 Snowfall Data and Event Definition ……………………….. 52 Daily snowfall data ……………………….………... 52 Event definition using first-order stations ….……… 53 Development of snow regions …………...………… 57 Identification of NWFS events …………………….. 59 Synoptic Fields …………………………………………….. 61 Analyses …………………………………………………………… 64 Climatology of NWFS ………………………………………64 Intensity of Snowfall ……………………………………….. 65 Influence of Elevation ……..……………………………….. 69 Spillover Effects ……………………………………………. 70 Trajectory Analyses ………………………………………... 72 viii Vertical Analyses of Moisture and Temperature …….…..…76 III RESULTS...……………………………………………….……...…..…….. 80 Introduction ...…………………………………………………...…. 80 NWFS Climatology ...……………………………………………… 81 Snowfall Intensity ………………………………………………..... 88 All Events ……………………………………………….…. 88 Synoptic-Scale Ascent ……………………………………... 96 Synoptic-Scale Subsidence ……………………………….. 102 Synoptic-Scale Subsidence: Trajectory and Sounding Sample …………………………………….. 107 Northwest Flow but No Snow ……………………………. 110 Influence of Elevation …………………………………………….. 115 Snowfall at High Peaks …………………………………… 115 Widespread at All Elevations ………………………….….. 120 Spillover Effects ……………………………………………….….. 124 Trajectory Analysis …………………………………………….…. 129 Trajectory Classification ………………………………….. 129 Composite Trajectory Plots ………………………………. 132 Composite Snowfall Totals …………………………….…. 136 Composite Sounding and Synoptic Fields………………… 139 Influence of the Great Lakes………………………………. 142 Comparative Air Trajectories …………………………….. 148 ix IV SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS …………………………………….. 152 Summary ………………………………………………………….. 152 General Characteristics ………………...…………………. 153 Snowfall Intensity ………………………………………… 153 Influence of Elevation …………………………………….. 155 Snowfall at High Peaks ……………...……………. 155 Widespread at all elevations …………………...…..156 Spillover Effects ………………………………………….. 157 Trajectory Analysis ………………………………………. 158 Conclusions ………………………………………………………. 159 Unanswered Questions and Future Work ………………………... 162 Vorticity Maxima ………………………………………… 162 Low-level Wind Direction ……………………………….. 162 Cloud Microphysical Environment ………………………. 163 Trajectory Analysis ………………………………………. 163 Synoptic Classification ………………………...…………. 165 Spatial Patterns of Snowfall ……………………………… 165 Influence of Hemispheric Teleconnections ……...………...166 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………….168 x LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1. Snow regions and cooperative observer stations ……………………………………… 58 2.2. Synoptic fields derived from the NCEP reanalysis dataset used in this study ……….. 62 2.3. Sounding variables analyzed in this study. Note that these variables were calculated at maturation (T0), T-12, and T+12 …………………………………..78 3.1. Mean synoptic field values and differences for light versus heavy NWFS events in the High Country (Region 8). Duration variables include Days (the number of days snowfall is reported at coop stations), Beginning-Maturation (hours), Maturation-Ending (hours), and Beginning-Ending (hours). Note that stars indicate that the differences are statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level ………….92 3.2. Same as Table 3.1, except for events in which synoptic-scale ascent is observed ……100 3.3. Same as Table 3.1, except for events in which synoptic-scale subsidence is observed ……………………………………………………………….. 105 3.4. Mean sounding field values and differences for light versus heavy NWFS with synoptic-scale subsidence in the High Country (Region 8) .…………………… 109 3.5. Mean synoptic field values and differences during periods of low-level northwest flow in which no snow and light snow was reported …………………….. 112 3.6. Mean synoptic field values and differences for events in which snow occurred at all elevations and those in which the High Peaks (Region 14) received markedly more snow …………………………………………………………………. 118 3.7. Same as Table 3.6, except for events that were widespread at all elevations ...……… 122 3.8. Mean synoptic field values and differences for events with significant spillover and those with little or no spillover ……………...……………………….... 127 3.9. Frequencies of each backward air trajectory class …………………………………... 130 3.10. Mean sounding and synoptic field values by each trajectory class…………………. 141 3.11. Mean sounding and synoptic field values and differences for Trajectory Class 2 versus Class 3……………………………………………………………….. 144 3.12. Mean synoptic field values over the High Country (region 8) for events with a GLC in the bottom vs. top quartile of the mean snowfall ratio between the High Country and Northern Plateau (region 13) ……………………… 151 xii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1.1. Location of study area and typical synoptic pattern for NWFS ………..………………. 2 1.2. Total Snowfall for February/March 1960 ………………………………………………41 1.3. Mean 850 hPa temperature departures from normal, March 1960 ……………………. 42 1.4. Vertical profiles of moisture and temperature