Modelling the generation of gravity waves by a maritime continent thunderstorm

Abstract

Observed wind and temperature profiles are used to initialize a model calculation of a maritime continent thunderstorm, and the numerical solution is used to explore the effect of tropospheric shear on the gravity-wave generation. The resultant convective system is qualitatively similar to that observed. The modelled gravity waves propagate away from the cloud with wave-fronts that are approximately circular, implying that the convective clouds do not generate waves which propagate in a preferred direction. The gravity-wave generation is related to the oscillation of the convective updraughts about their level of neutral bouyancy. While the general features of the gravity waves are similar i..