An Investigation of Low-level Thermodynamic Characteristics Associated with Significant and Nonsignificant Tornadoes in the Southeast United States

Author

Justyn D. Jackson

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Brown, Michael E.

Committee Member

Wax, Charles L.

Committee Member

Rodgers, John C., III

Date of Degree

5-13-2006

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geosciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

A majority of tornado research focuses on the Great Plains region of the United States. Knowledge of tornado environments outside of the Great Plains is limited; this is especially true for the Southeast U.S. In addition, little is known about the role of the lower troposphere on tornadogenesis. Therefore, this study examines low-level thermodynamic parameters associated with tornadoes in the Southeast U.S between 1960 and 2002. Previous studies have shown that higher values of CAPE, 0-3 km CAPE, 0-1 and 0-3 km SRH, and 0-1 and 0-1 km EHI are more likely associated with significant tornadoes. Similar studies have shown that decreasing LCL, LFC heights, and CIN are common with significant tornadoes. This study supports that higher values of shear and instability/shear and lower CIN values are associated with significant tornadoes in the Southeast. However, this study indicates that instability, LCL, and LFC heights may be poor tornado strength discriminators.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/16574

Recommended Citation

Jackson, Justyn D., "An Investigation of Low-level Thermodynamic Characteristics Associated with Significant and Nonsignificant Tornadoes in the Southeast United States" (2006). Theses and Dissertations. 583.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/583