Astronomy, Photography and Weather

General Category => Weather & Atmospherics => Topic started by: martinastro on August 06, 2008, 11:39:21 am



Title: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: martinastro on August 06, 2008, 11:39:21 am
Here's a few images of the monster cell which appeared over Maghera on friday evening August 1st. It had a very large mesocyclone and based on the visual features I believe this is a good candidate for a rare LP supercell over N. Ireland. It has been a major goal of mine to catch a Meso. So with a solar eclipse, the excitement of John's funnel and the meso during the evening, I would say that this would be a day which I will never forget. I have a report with images on my site...

Page 1

http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Maghera%20Mesocyclone%20-%20August%201st%202008%20-%20Page%201.html

Page 2

http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Maghera%20Mesocyclone%20-%20Page%202.html

Here's a video clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRJslTsueV4

(http://i35.tinypic.com/ff75zd.jpg)

(http://i36.tinypic.com/n3uknk.jpg)

(http://i36.tinypic.com/2m67sc3.jpg)

(http://i35.tinypic.com/23ue60w.jpg)

(http://i37.tinypic.com/2iaermh.jpg)

(http://i33.tinypic.com/wb2b.jpg)

(http://i35.tinypic.com/efqfjs.jpg)

A meso is a persistent rotating updraught within a storm cell. This one had an area of rotation longer than several football pitches end on end and was cranking for over 1.5 hours. It also produced inflow bands and a wall cloud. These cells are capable of strong tornadoes and big hail. They are rare in the UK but are a big attaction in the states.  More info...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesocyclone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercell


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: Paul on August 06, 2008, 12:15:27 pm
Gosh, that's magnificent stuff Martin - very well caught! This is some "summer" we're having.

P.


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: Steveo74 on August 06, 2008, 02:08:23 pm
Fantastic Martin!!!! That was a big beast of a cloud system, you captured it well... Well done....


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: Paul on August 06, 2008, 05:36:18 pm
Martin, I take it you've sent this to BBC NI? I shall be watching :-)

P.


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: martinastro on August 06, 2008, 06:44:06 pm
Thanks very much guys!

Paul, I actually haven't. I wasn't going to because I thought I would be pushing my luck. Do you think I should?, and if so, which images should I send in?

Thanks  :)


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: martinastro on August 06, 2008, 07:13:45 pm
Here's an annotated version with the storm structures identified. I forgot to mark the striations in the updraught near the word Mesocyclone which is another visual sign of rapid rotation.

(http://i34.tinypic.com/n37vc1.jpg)


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: Paul on August 06, 2008, 08:47:31 pm
Now that's a fabulous annotated photo Martin  - very informative for those of us who are some way behind you on the weather front :)

I'd seriously send in an unannotated version of that  pic to the Beeb - I don't think there's a restriction on how many times you can be on!

P.


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: martinastro on August 06, 2008, 10:23:08 pm
Glad you liked the annotated version. It took me some time to put that together.

I sent in the full size version of the above image and an annotated version and talked a bit about the phenomena. It's in their hands now. Hopefully it should generate some interest.

Thanks.


Title: Re: Maghera Mesocyclone/Poss LP Supercell - August 1st 08
Post by: Roman White on August 20, 2008, 12:15:45 pm
Martin, what a great photos!!  :) It looks like a real storm, not like other gentle storms. I have no words to comment, just beatiful weather. Underlined weather because when it is warm and clear (like today in Poltava) I can say there is no weather.
Especially liked your annotated photo  :)

Now I recall January. That's what I call weather!
(http://s40.radikal.ru/i088/0808/60/665eb2f29f3b.jpg) (http://www.radikal.ru)