Special Course: Dynamics of Severe Convective Storms by Prof. Paul Markowski

This one-week course examines the dynamics of convective storms, with particular emphasis on severe storms, including mesoscale convective systems and supercell storms.  Topics include the environmental conditions that support severe convection, the dynamics of updraft rotation and propagation, and the development and evolution of storm-scale vortices. 

The course will also explore processes that limit storm predictability and some of the latest research on tornadogenesis.

The course will draw on observational evidence, theoretical concepts, and numerical simulations to develop a process-based understanding of severe storms and the physical origins of their most damaging phenomena.

Figure from "Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes" by Paul Markowski and Yvette Richardson. Wiley‐Blackwell, 2010. ISBN: 978‐0470742136. 430 pp. Figure kindly provided by the authors.

The four afternoon exercises will deal with interesting cases of severe convection in Europe - chosen by Dr. Tomáš Púčik: “Afternoon exercises will involve forecasting convection either in the  current situation or using…