Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells: TORUS | CU Experts

Abstract; Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) of Supercells (TORUS) aimed to improve the conceptual model of supercell thunderstorms through advancing understanding of the role of storm-generated airmass boundaries and coherent structures in the development of near-surface rotation. Research questions guiding the filed phase of TORUS focused on left-flank vertical vorticity sheets, streamwise vorticity currents, left-flank convergence boundaries, and rear-flank internal surges. Research questions also aimed to address the relationship between inflow modification and supercell characteristics. Across three field seasons (2019, 2022, and 2023), data on 46 supercell thunderstorms were collected through coordinated deployments of radars, lidars, mobile mesonets, UAS, manned aircraft, radiosondes, and swarmsondes. More than 200 scientists and engineers (many of whom were students) participated in the TORUS field deployments. The scientific motivation for TORUS, experiment design, and examples of data/analysis are presented in this article.

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