A Comparison of the Finescale Structures of a Prefrontal Wind-Shift Line and a Strong Cold Front in the Southern Plains of the United States

• Published in: Monthly weather review 2017-08, Vol.145 (8), p.3307-3330
• Main Authors: Bluestein, Howard B., Wienhoff, Zachary B., Turner, David D., Reif, Dylan W., Snyder, Jeffrey C., Thiem, Kyle J., Houser, Jana B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0027-0644; 1520-0493
• DOI: 10.1175/MWR-D-16-0403.1

The objectives of this study are to determine the finescale characteristics of the wind and temperature fields associated with a prefrontal wind-shift line and to contrast them with those associated with a strong cold front. Data from a mobile, polarimetric, X-band, Doppler radar and from a surveillance S-band radar, temperature profiles retrieved from a thermodynamic sounder, and surface observations from the Oklahoma Mesonet are used to analyze a prefrontal wind-shift line in Oklahoma on 11 November 2013. Data from the same mobile radar and the Oklahoma Mesonet are used to identify the finescale characteristics of the wind field associated with a strong surface cold front in Oklahoma on 9 April 2013. It is shown that the prefrontal wind-shift line has a kinematic and thermodynamic structure similar to that of an intrusion (elevated density current), while the cold front has a kinematic structure similar to that of a classic density current. Other characteristics of the prefrontal wind-shift line and front are also discussed. Evidence of waves generated at the leading edge of the prefrontal wind-shift line is presented.