Convective squall lines are a major source of springtime precipitation in the United States. Squall lines typically consist of an active convective region with its potential for very heavy rainfalls and a trailing region of stratiform precipitation which is generally much less intense, but can produce a total rainfall amount equal to the that of the convective region. The nature and structure of the stratiform region is a current active research area not only because of its beneficial rainfall, but also due to the fact that knowledge of the redistribution of heat and moisture in this region is important to our understanding and ability to predict these localized weather events. The Principal Investigator will utilize a three dimensional numerical model to study the formation and early development of the stratiform region of squall lines. He will use the model to investigate the sensitivity of stratiform region development to modeled microphysical factors and characteristics of the large scale environment. The results from this study will improve fundamental understanding of squall lines and will provide clues to the feedback mechanisms of these systems to larger scale processes.//
