High resolution numerical simulations of the tornadic region within a mature thunderstorm.

Recent multiple Doppler radar observations of supercell thunderstorms have documented that a particular dynamic structure consistently develops when a storm enters its tornadic phase. This structure is characterized by a downdraft outflow which wraps round the center of storm circulation at low levels and an associated distortion from a single cell to a two-cell updraft structure (Brandes, 1978; Lemon and Doswell, 1979). In this study the authors investigate the evolution of a storm's tornadic phase through high resolution numerical simulations initiated within the central portion of a 3D cloud model mature thunderstorm. (from paper)