Wavelet analysis of simulated tropical convective cloud systems. Part II: Decomposition of convective-scale and mesoscale structure

Numerically simulated three-dimensional tropical convective systems were an alyzed using a wavelet approach in which the vertical shear of the ambient wind is used as a decomposition criterion. The method objectively decompose s the simulated systems into their two primary components, namely organized deep convection and a mesoscale stratiform region. This reproduces the sta ndard model of highly organized mesoscale convective systems as well as giv ing an objective characterization of less organized regimes. It demonstrate s the vertical component of wind shear as a statistically useful criterion in addition to its better known role as a quasi-deterministic mechanism con trolling the organization of convection and its scale selection.