San Francisco State
University Name
________________________
Department of Earth &
Climate Sciences Spring
2018
ERTH 260--Inclass
Exercise #14: Student Discussion of
the Afternoon Meteorological Environment Associated with the Joplin
Tornado (100 points)
Presentations: Friday 11 May 2018
Each team will discuss
aspects of the afternoon meteorological environment and unfolding weather
pattern in the last few hours before and during the Joplin tornado. I have included a list of
graphics with links that students can use as illustration. If you'd like to add
others you have in mind, just let me know and I can provide a link.
Each team will present a
narrative based upon what weÕve learned in class are the ingredients of the
severe thunderstorm environment in the Great Plains associated with the typical
weather pattern. Each student
should plan on speaking around 2 minutes on the aspects the Team decides upon,
as a group.
The Teams should make certain
there is coordination between the groups.
For example, the evolution of the CAPE and dew point environment will
clearly relate to the surface weather maps. The development of cumulonimbus should
relate to the dry line position and the removal of CIN. Etc.
Please turn in this sheet
with your name on it, and circle the Team # of which you were a part.
Team 1: Surface Environment Evolution (Nicolas, Linda, Kellen)
Team 2: Instability and Shear Environment
Evolution (Emma, Tanay,
Allan, Cynthia)
Team 3: Radar and Satellite Evolution (Rami, Yan Tung, Wyndham)
Inventory of charts and graphics:
Surface and Upper Air
plots:
22 May 2011 (UTC): 1200,
1600,
2200,
0000 (23 May 2011)
Surface isobars, dew points
and winds (animation)
Soundings:
Oklahoma City OK (1200
UTC, 22 May and 0000
UTC 23 May)
Springfield MO (1200
UTC and 2200
UTC 22 May and
0000 UTC 23 May)
Animation: Oklahoma City Sounding, morning
afternoon
Animation: Springfield Sounding, morning afternoon
Shear:
Springfield MO 12
UTC hodograph
Animation: 0-6 km Layer (Deep) Shear
Animation: 0-3 km Storm Relative Helicity
Radar and Visible
Satellite:
_
Degree Tilt Reflectivity and Storm Relative Velocity
Storm
Reflectivity with Debris Ball and Tornado Vortex Signature
1/2
km Visible Satellite Animation
1 km
Visible Satellite Animation