The Influence of the Elevated Mixed Layer on Record High Temperatures and Severe Weather Over the Northeast US in April and May 2010 Jason M. Cordeira +, Thomas J. Galarneau, Jr.*, and Lance F. Bosart + + Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA *Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA NSF Support: ATM NROW XII Wednesday, 3 November 2010 Albany, NY

Discuss physical processes that contribute to maintenance of an elevated mixed layer (EML) to over the Northeast U.S. Discuss EMLs over the Northeast during: –Record high temperatures on 7 April and 26 May 2010 –A severe MCS over western New England on 26−27 May 2010 (complementing Tom Wasula’s talk) Objectives

Discuss physical processes that contribute to maintenance of an elevated mixed layer (EML) to over the Northeast U.S. Discuss EMLs over the Northeast during: –Record high temperatures on 7 April and 26 May 2010 –A severe MCS over western New England on 26−27 May 2010 Objectives

EMLs as High Lapse Rates over North America Data source: –North American radiosonde network –1974 to 2007; 12Z data only Catalogued: –Continuous 150-hPa layers –Exceeded a lapse rate of −8.0 C km −1 between 925 and 400 hPa Warm-season: –Layer-mean θ >30°C Climatology of high lapse rates (HLRs): Intermountain-West U.S. maximum driven by sensible heating over semi- arid elevated terrain Maximum develops poleward from Mexico to Colorado between April and July

EMLs as High Lapse Rates over North America Climatology of high lapse rates (HLRs): Poleward and eastward displacement of HLRs from their source region ~50% occur in March-April-May HLRs over the Northeast U.S.: Albany, NY Monthly HLR Frequency (N=33) Data source: –North American radiosonde network –1974 to 2007; 12Z data only Catalogued: –Continuous 150-hPa layers –Exceeded a lapse rate of −8.0 C km −1 between 925 and 400 hPa Warm-season: –Layer-mean θ >30°C

HLRs over the Northeast U.S. Banacos, P. C., and M. L. Ekster, 2010: The association of the elevated mixed layer with significant severe weather events in the Northeastern U.S, Wea. and Forecasting, 25, 1082–1102. –7.6% of significant severe weather in the Northeast occurs in association with an EML. –EML plume originates over the Intermountain West and is transported to the Northeast in subsiding, anticyclonically curved flow. –Lapse rate advection dominates transport of EML. Illustrated using a scale analysis of the lapse rate tendency equation in height coordinates. Complementary Research: Fig. 3: All sig. severe Fig. 8a: 3-km trajectories for EML influenced sig. severe

HLRs over the Northeast U.S.: Albany, NY Monthly HLR Frequency (N=15) HLRs over the Northeast U.S. Isolated March-April-May HLRs over Albany, NY (1974−2007) Created composite air parcel trajectories from NCEP−NCAR reanalysis Ending at 500 hPa −24 h −48 h −72 h Ending at 600 hPa −24 h −48 h −72 h Ending at 700 hPa −24 h −48 h −72 h Composite 72-h backward air parcel trajectories: hPa 0 h

Maintenance and destruction of HLRs Lagrangian tendency = Tilting + Stretching + Differential Diabatic

Maintenance and destruction of HLRs Maintenance: What processes produce HLR maintenance? HLR maintained when right-hand side forcing terms are zero or balance HLR maintenance suggests the local tendency is dominated by advection. Lagrangian tendency = Tilting + Stretching + Differential Diabatic

Maintenance and destruction of HLRs Maintenance: What processes produce HLR maintenance? Dissipation: What processes produce HLR dissipation? HLR dissipation for thermally direct circulations, strong low-level ascent, or cessation of strong low-level sensible heating (or deep moist convection) Lagrangian tendency = Tilting + Stretching + Differential Diabatic HLR maintained when right-hand side forcing terms are zero or balance HLR maintenance suggests the local tendency is dominated by advection.

Maintenance and destruction of HLRs Methodology: Calculated tilting, stretching, and diabatic contributions to the lapse rate tendency following air parcel trajectories for climatology and two events from Climatology: 72-h backward air parcel trajectories calculated from 2.5° NCEP−NCAR reanalysis 2010 events: 72-h to 96-h backward air parcel trajectories calculated using 0.5° NCEP−GFS Note: Diabatic heating approximated from Lagrangian potential temperature tendency Lagrangian tendency = Tilting + Stretching + Differential Diabatic

Trajectory ending at 600 hPa −24 h −48 h −72 h Daily-averaged Trajectory Hours Stretching generally balances diabatic; tilting is weak Enhanced stretching via low-level subsidence during −24-to-0 h period Integrated tendency approximately zero −HLRs over Northeast U.S. primarily result from advection  HLRs over the Northeast U.S. 700−500-hPa Lagrangian tendency for air parcels ending at 600 hPa: Lagrangian HLR tendency following air parcels ending at 600 hPa Tilting Stretching Diabatic Tendency Lagrangian Tendency (K 200 hPa −1 24 h −1 ) 0 h

Objectives Discuss physical processes that contribute to maintenance of an elevated mixed layer (EML) to over the Northeast U.S. Discuss EMLs over the Northeast during: –Record high temperatures on 7 April and 26 May 2010 –A severe MCS over western New England on 26−27 May 2010

7 April 2010 – Early-season warmth ALB: 12Z/7 April OKX: 00Z/8 April BDL: 33.9°C (93°F) LGA: 32.8°C (91°F) POU: 32.2°C (90°F) BOS: 32.2°C DCA: 32.2°C PHL: 31.7°C (89°F) ALB: 30.5°C (87°F) CON: 30.5°C 30°C EML source: University of Wyoming SBML EML SBML source: University of Wyoming

4−7 April 2010: Potential temperature lapse rate 1200 UTC 4 April − 1200 UTC 7 April 2010 Minimum 700−500-hPa θ Lapse Rate [K (100 hPa) −1 ] Time-mean 700−500-hPa Geo. Height [dam] 72-h backward trajectory Ending at 600 hPa Ending at 12Z/7 April 2010 Air parcel trajectories are similar to climatology Relatively low-amplitude flow pattern likely favored strong lapse rate advection off Mexican Plateau K (100 hPa) −1 −24 h −48 h −72 h source: 0.5-degree NCEP-GFS 0 h

−24 h −48 h −72 h Trajectory ending at 600 hPa Daily-averaged Trajectory Hours 700−500-hPa Lagrangian tendency for air parcels ending at 600 hPa: Lagrangian HLR tendency following air parcels ending at 600 hPa Tilting Stretching Diabatic Tendency Lagrangian Tendency (K 200 hPa −1 24 h −1 ) 0 h 4−7 April 2010: Lagrangian perspective Diabatic contribution via sensible heating over Mexico Diabatic contribution via sensible heating over Ohio Valley and Northeast (prior to “leaf out”?) Tilting generally balances stretching and diabatic contribution over Ohio Valley and Northeast Integrated tendency is weakly positive –maintenance via advection, modified by diabatic processes

26 May 2010 – Early-season warmth and severe MCS WMW: 12Z/26 May 30°C 35°C EML source: University of Wyoming ALB: 00Z/27 May source: University of Wyoming EML SBML BDL: 37.2°C (99°F) CON: 35.6°C (96°F) POU: 35.0°C (95°F) ALB: 34.4°C (94°F) YUL: 34.4°C BOS: 34.4°C LGA: 34.4°C BTV: 33.3°C (92°F) PWM: 32.8°C (91°F)

26 May 2010 – Early-season warmth and severe MCS WMW: 12Z/26 May EML source: University of Wyoming ALB: 00Z/27 May source: University of Wyoming EML SBML ALB: 00Z/27 May source: University of Wyoming MU CAPE: ~3600 J kg −1 SB CAPE: ~2800 J kg −1 0−6 km Shear: ~15 m s −1 T 850 = 21.2°C… warmest May T 850 in sounding record (1954−2010) Previous T 850 record: 20 May 1996 (20.2 °C)… BDL also 99°F (37.2°C)

WMW: 12Z/26 May 0130/27: 0300/27: 0430/27: 0600/27: EML source: University of Wyoming source: College of DuPage ALB: 00Z/27 May source: University of Wyoming EML 26 May 2010 – Early-season warmth and severe MCS SBML

−24 h −48 h −72 h −96 h source: 0.5-degree NCEP-GFS 22−26 May 2010: Potential temperature lapse rate 1200 UTC 22 May − 1200 UTC 27 May 2010 Minimum 750−550-hPa θ Lapse Rate [K (100 hPa) −1 ] Time-mean 750−550-hPa Geo. Height [dam] 96-h backward trajectory Ending at 600 hPa Ending at 12Z/26 May 2010 Air parcel trajectories differ from climatology HLR advected off Mexican Plateau and circumnavigated Great Lakes region anticyclone in high-amplitude flow pattern K (100 hPa) −1 source: 0.5-degree NCEP-GFS 0 h

−24 h −48 h −72 h −96 h Trajectory ending at 600 hPa Daily-averaged Trajectory Hours 700−500-hPa Lagrangian tendency for air parcels ending at 600 hPa: Lagrangian HLR tendency following air parcels ending at 600 hPa Tilting Stretching Diabatic Tendency Lagrangian Tendency (K 200 hPa −1 24 h −1 ) 0 h 22−26 May 2010: Lagrangian perspective Stretching via subsidence over TX, OK Zero tendency (weak forcing) during anticyclonic loop over MO, IL, IA Tilting via thermally indirect ageostrophic circulation over Canada Negative trending tendency –consistent with strong low-level ascent and initiation of deep moist convection

−24 h −48 h −72 h −96 h Trajectory ending at 600 hPa Daily-averaged Trajectory Hours 700−500-hPa Lagrangian tendency for air parcels ending at 600 hPa: Lagrangian HLR tendency following air parcels ending at 600 hPa Tilting Stretching Diabatic Tendency Lagrangian Tendency (K 200 hPa −1 24 h −1 ) 0 h 22−26 May 2010: Lagrangian perspective Stretching via subsidence over TX, OK Zero tendency (weak forcing) during anticyclonic loop over MO, IL, IA Tilting via thermally indirect ageostrophic circulation over Canada Negative trending tendency –consistent with strong low-level ascent and initiation of deep moist convection 2315 UTC 26 May

Broader Impact: March-April-May Statistics source: Climate Services and Monitoring Division, NOAA/NCDC a)Northeast recorded their warmest Spring (MAM) in the 116-y record b)Northeast MAM maximum temperature anomalies of +2 to +4°C c)Albany, NY 365-d departure from long term mean of +1.5°C Albany, NY 31-d mean daily temperature anomaly (°C) source: Climate Prediction Center / NCEP (a) (c) Daily Averaged Temperatures Maximum Temperature Anomaly March-May 2010 (b)

Summary HLRs over the Northeast U.S. –preferentially occur March, April, and May –primarily result from advection off Mexican Plateau source region 4−7 April 2010 HLR –resulted from advection off Mexican Plateau –likely maintained over Northeast via diabatic heating associated with strong low-level sensible heating prior to “leaf-out” –contributed to deep mixing and record high temperatures 22−27 May 2010 HLR –resulted from circuitous advection off Mexican Plateau –maintained via stretching (subsidence) and tilting, weakened in presence of deep moist convection over Northeast –contributed to record high temperatures and a severe MCS