DIABATIC DIVERGENCE PROFILES IN WESTERN PACIFIC MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEMS

Heating in the atmosphere can be expressed as diabatic divergence delt a(d), which is nearly equal to the actual horizontal divergence delta in tropical convection. High-quality delta profile measurements from a irborne Doppler radar ''purls'' in ten mesoscale convective systems (M CS) observed during TOGA-COARE are examined, and the mean profile is c ompared with rawinsonde array measurements. Young convective features have strong nearsurface convergence, while older cells with better-dev eloped downdrafts and stratiform precipitation areas have their peak c onvergence aloft. In the mean, then, surface flow is only weakly conve rgent or even divergent, so that the main convergence into MCSs is dee p and peaked aloft, with a sharp ''melting convergence'' at 0 degrees C. Divergence prevails above similar to 10 km altitude but was undersa mpled by the radar. Unusual but well-sampled observations in the purl dataset include: a persistent, widespread delta profile feature in one well-sampled MCS (a cyclone rainband); oscillatory ''reverberations'' centered on the melting level, with similar to 3-4 km wavelength in t he vertical; and a conspicuous absence of any high vertical wavenumber features other than the melting reverberations. All three observation s may be understood as consequences of the heating profile of convecti on adjusting itself to oppose environmental temperature perturbations. This adjustment is predicted by convective cloud conceptual models wi th diverse dynamical bases, and consequently is simulated by essential ly all convective parameterization schemes. One foreseeable consequenc e of this mechanism is the downward development of initially elevated (cool core) depressions, a key stage in tropical cyclogenesis. Simple linear models of Hadley and Walker circulations forced by observed MCS delta(d) profiles illustrate the importance of the elevated convergen ce peak to large-scale circulations, particularly to low-level wind fi elds.