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Soil Moisture Effects on Supercellular Convective Initiation and Atmospheric Moisture in the Midwestern United States

Schuster, Doug E,
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462232761

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Geography (Arts and Sciences).
With the increased availability of soil moisture measurements in recent years, literature linking soil moisture to convection has begun to appear. These studies primarily link soil moisture to ordinary convection or rainfall. This study focuses specifically on the relationship between the soil moisture and the location of convective initiation (CI) of supercellular storms. The relationship is established using two separate methods: 1) Soil moisture anomalies are compared with supercell CI success and failure through use of chi-square analyses, and 2) soil moisture anomalies are linked to atmospheric moisture (specifically relative humidity and dewpoint) by use of the Student’s t-test. The former method suggests that low soil moisture is more favorable for CI, though this relationship is only significant after diurnal heating has occurred. The latter suggests a positive relationship between relative humidity and soil moisture. It is hypothesized that the lower soil and relative humidity values make supercells more likely by raising the lifted condensation level and slowing the rate at which convective inhibition is removed.
Jana Houser (Advisor)
Ryan Fogt (Committee Member)
Dorothy Sack (Committee Member)
100 p.
Atmospheric Sciences; Geography; Meteorology; Soil Sciences
meteorology; soil moisture; convective initiation; supercell

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schuster, , D. E. (2016). Soil Moisture Effects on Supercellular Convective Initiation and Atmospheric Moisture in the Midwestern United States [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462232761

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schuster, , Doug. Soil Moisture Effects on Supercellular Convective Initiation and Atmospheric Moisture in the Midwestern United States. 2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462232761.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schuster, , Doug. "Soil Moisture Effects on Supercellular Convective Initiation and Atmospheric Moisture in the Midwestern United States." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462232761

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1462232761
707
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.