NSF Org:	AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient:	COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	May 22, 2000
Latest Amendment Date:	June 7, 2005
Award Number:	0071371
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Stephan P. Nelson AGS  Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	April 15, 2000
End Date:	December 31, 2005 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$724,043.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$923,653.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2000 = $165,866.00 FY 2001 = $171,489.00 FY 2002 = $177,301.00 FY 2003 = $199,610.00 FY 2004 = $209,387.00
History of Investigator:	Richard Johnson (Principal Investigator) johnson@atmos.colostate.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Colorado State University 601 S HOWES ST FORT COLLINS CO  US  80521-2807 (970)491-6355
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	Colorado State University 601 S HOWES ST FORT COLLINS CO  US  80521-2807
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	LT9CXX8L19G1
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Physical & Dynamic Meteorology
Primary Program Source:	app-0100  01000102DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT app-0102  app-0103  app-0104
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	152500
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

Mesoscale convective systems (MCS's) consist of a collection of thunderstorms that organize themselves into distinct patterns. MCS's have been shown to be the source of both beneficial Spring-time rainfall and severe weather. Building on previous research, the Principal Investigator will continue research directed towards improved understanding of mid-latitude MCSs with a focus on their organization, longevity, embedded mesoscale circulations (especially mesoscale convective vortices, MCV's) and coupling with the atmospheric boundary layer. The Principal Investigator has two objectives:

1. To investigate the mechanisms for organization, growth, maintenance and dissipation of mid-latitude MCS's.
2. To conduct a climatological study of MCV's and to study how MCV's initiate convection that regenerates or sustains MCS's.

MCV's are mid-level, stable, weak vortices that appear to form from the remnants of MCS's. They are believed to be important for they often appear to be the source of initiation of new convection many hours after the demise of the original MCS. That is, after MCS's have dissipated, they appear to spawn weak MCV's which may be the trigger for the next day's round of MCS's. If so, a complete understanding of these phenomena holds the promise of improved predictability of thunderstorms.

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