1. Wet and Dry Microbursts
Daniel R. Adriaansen
&
Baylee A. Balschmiter
SUNY Brockport
Department of the Earth Sciences
ESC 452 Mesoscale Meteorology
20 April 2006

2. What is a microburst?
Downburst: Strong downdraft which induces an outburst of damaging winds on or near the ground. (Fujita 1985)
- 2 types:
Macroburst: A large downburst with its outburst winds extending in excess of 4km (2.5 mi) in the horizontal with maximum wind speeds of 60 m/s (134 mph). (Fujita 1985)
Microburst: A small downburst with its outburst, damaging winds extending only 4 km (2.5 miles) or less with maximum wind speeds of up to 75 m/s (168 mph). (Fujita 1985)

3. Conceptual Model - Vortex ring model
- Meso Low on either side of meso High

4. Two (three) varieties (Intermediate?)
(Intermediate?)

5. Dry Microburst
A microburst that is accompanied by little or no rain between the onset and the end of the high winds. (Wakimoto 1985)

6. Dry Microbursts - JAWS (Joint Airport Weather Studies, 1982)
- Further defined microburst characteristics, particularly involving dry microbursts.
- Denver, CO

7. Physical Characteristics
- Time scale 2-5 minutes
- Peak wind speeds exceeding 30 m/s (67 mph)
- Reflectivities of ≤ 30 dBz
- Precipitation ≤ 0.25 mm (0.01 inches)
- Lightning often limited
- Limited synoptic forcing/influence
- Sometimes associated with fair weather

8. Thermodynamic environment
- Morning Inversion
- Inverted V signature
- Nearly dry-adiabatic ABL
- Large Dew-point depressions in ABL
- Moist layer located ~ 500mb (DPD  0)
- Light ABL winds

11. Visual Identification
- Virga is defined as wisps or streaks of water or ice particles falling out of a cloud but evaporating before reaching the earth's surface as precipitation. (NOAA 2001)
- Blowing dust/dust rings at surface
- Very good indicators of dry microburst potential

18. Wet microburst
A microburst accompanied by heavy precipitation at the surface. A rain foot may be a visible sign of a wet microburst.

19. Wet Microburst Formation
There is a layer of nearly saturated air that is close to Γm
Above this layer is an elevated dry layer
When Tw is brought to saturation and mixed with warm air, it creates a negatively buoyant atmosphere that leads to a severe downdraft

21. Characteristics Little or no capping inversion.
A moist mid-tropospheric layer between 5000 ft and 15,000 ft.
An elevated dry layer above 15,000 ft.
When combined there is a high potential for a wet microburst

22. http://www. cimms. ou. edu/~doswell/microbursts/SW_Texas_rainfoot_c

23. http://www. nssl. noaa. gov/~doswell/microbursts/SW_Texas_virga_sm

24. References
1. Caracena, F., Holle, R. L., & Doswell III, C. A. (2001, June). Microbursts: A Handbook for Visual Identification. Retreived April 10th, 2006, from
2. Fujita, T. (1985). The Downburst: Microburst and Macroburst. Chicago: The University of Chicago.
3. NOAA. (2001). Question of the Month. Retreived April10th, 2006, from
4. Wakimoto, R. M. (1985). Forecasting Dry Microburst Activity over the High Plains. Monthly Weather Review, 113, ( ).

25. Questions?
Comments?
Rude Gestures?