Introduction To MCC's

5 Pages 1329 Words

1. Introduction
Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) are significant rain-producing weather systems for the central United States during the warm season (April-September). Additionally, MCSs produce a brad range of severe convective weather systems that are potentially damaging and dangerous (Jirak et. al. 2003). MCSs account for approximately 30-70 percent of the warm season precipitation over much of the region between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. Although some of this rain can be helpful for agricultural use, many times heavy rainfall associated with MCSs cause flash floods (Moore et. al. 2003).
Even though the importance of MCSs is well understood, there is much left to learn about the growth and development of these systems. One approach that has been used to study MCSs involves classifying the systems and analyzing the differences among the categories.
This paper is going to look at some of those different categories. The author is going to discuss the definition of the systems and look at some severe weather that the systems cause.
2. Classifications
a. MCCs and PECS
The definition for these systems was created by Maddox (1980) and is shown in table one. The definition was based on physical characteristics from enhanced, infrared satellite imager. There has been a minor modification to the definition that Maddox first developed. Augustine and Howard (1988) removed the < -32 degree Celsius size requirement in order to simplify the identification and documentation procedures of
MCCs.
There are four stages of an MCC, which are genesis, development, mature, and dissipation. In the genesis stage, individual thunderstorms develop within a region where conditions are favorable for convection. Topography and localized heat sources may play a role in initial storm development (Maddox 1980). The thunderstorms often produce significant severe weather during this stage such as tornadoes, hail, and...