Study of Dynamics of the Cumulonimbus Anvil of Large Vertical Extent

A. A. Sinkevich, T. W. Krauss, V. D. Stepanenko, Yu. A. Dovgalyuk, N. E. Veremey, A. B. Kurov, and L. V. Pivovarova

Results are presented of analysis of development of a cumulonimbus cloud anvil with the top height exceeding 18 km, as observed in Central India. The anvil development is studied using the measurements from Meteosat-5 and with the WR-100 radar. Minimum air temperature measured from the satellite at the cloud top level is –105C. The rate of cloud top height growth is, on average, 0.5 m/s. Horizontal extent of the anvil in the steering flow direction reached 85 km, and rate of the anvil propagation in horizontal direction was equal to 32.4 km/h. The anvil area, after the satellite data, reached 3675 km2. After the radar data, horizontal extent of the anvil reached 50 km, maximum area being 600 km2. Analysis of discrepancies between the satellite and radar measurements of the anvil area shows that a significant part of the anvil cannot be detected by the WR-100 radar because its potential is not enough high; the satellite measurement data improve significantly quality of information on the Cb characteristics.