Cloud-top morphology of convective storms as observed by meteorological satellites

Title: Cloud-top morphology of convective storms as observed by meteorological satellites Author: Michaela Radová Department: Department of Atmospheric Physics Supervisor: RNDr. Martin Setvák, CSc., Czech Hydrometeorological Institute Abstract: This work focuses on study of features occurring at tops of convective storms, namely embedded warm areas, cold rings, cold-U/Vs and overshooting tops (OTs), mainly from the perspective of satellite observations. We have assembled a database of 104 subjectively detected cold rings and cold-U/Vs from the area of Europe. We discuss relationship between satellite- observed brightness temperature and cloud top height determined from radar measurements for storms with distinct cold-rings. Our results support the hypothesis that the warm area is a consequence of presence of central elevated dome reaching warmer lower stratosphere. Moreover, a storm with transformation of cold ring into cold-U is studied and an elevated plume above storm anvil in the warmer lower stratosphere is found to be a likely explanation of the warm area inside the cold-U. Both analyses confirm that thermal inversion above the tropopause is a necessary prerequisite for occurrence of cold rings and cold-U/Vs. We also propose a method for automated objective determination of spatial characteristics of..