DCVZ?

[Jim Tang]

I know this is a dumb question , but oh well -

I've heard you all of you talk about the DCVZ. I know that it has something to do with Colorado supercells, but what exactly is it?

Thanks!

 

[mikegeukes]

AMS Glossary:

Denver convergence–vorticity zone—(Abbreviated DCVZ.) A mesoscale flow feature of convergent winds, 50 to 100 km in length, usually oriented north–south, just east of the Denver, Colorado area.
The cause of the feature is an interaction of southerly low-level flow with an east–west ridge known as the Palmer Divide extending onto the eastern Colorado plains to the south of Denver. In addition to the convergent wind field, which has been shown to help initiate thunderstorms in the convective season, the flow within the convergent zone sometimes develops smaller-scale vortices, hence the name “convergence–vorticity zone.

Denver Convergence Zone (DCVZ)
Thoughts from Albert Pietrycha and Ed Szoke (extracted from e-mail)
Sam Barricklow;s Web Site has some information about the DCVZ
http://www.k5kj.net/dcvz.htm

Al Pietrycha
http://stormeyes.org/pietrycha/vortex/dcvz...980716dcvz.html
http://www.stormeyes.org/pietrycha/vortex/...716/980716.html

Probably some AMS articles somewhere on the subject.

Mike

 

[JP Santiago]

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/hazard/img/ttor8099.gif

That would explain the above graphic. I have wondered for some time why there's a "bullseye" of increased tornado frequency in eastern Colorado that seems distinct from the usual "Tornado Alley" occurrences.

Thanks!