Characterising the evolution of a flower cloud system observed during the EUREC4A field campaign using satellite observations

Abstract:

A flower-like cloud system occurred on 2 February 2020 near Barbados during the EUREC4A field campaign. We have used the GOES-16 satellite data to characterize the initial development, the transition, organisation of cells, and the formation and propagation of the arc clouds associated with the cold pools. The cloud system started from small clouds in one of the cloud streets to the northeast of the region. Those small clouds grew during their movement towards the southwest at speeds controlled roughly by the 850 hPa winds. During the movement, interesting activities, such as split and aggregation of cells, detrainment outflow, among others, occurred. The clouds were transformed to a flower-like system. Several hypotheses were proposed to explain the transition. In the final stage of the cloud system evolution, arc clouds associated with cold pools developed. The arc clouds propagated at various speeds, and some clouds interacted with existing clouds during their propagations. We plan to numerically simulate the case with a LES model to further examine the evolution of the flow-like system in details.