Modified instability index of the troposphere associated with thunderstorms / nor'westers over Bangladesh during the pre-monsoon season

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to study different Modified Stability Indices in relation to the occurrence of severe thunderstorms/nor’westers in order to find out the critical values of different modified indices favorable for the formation of thunderstorms in Bangladesh. Computations have also been made for the stations in and around Bangladesh for studying the spatial distribution of the modified stability indices. The Modified Instability Indices such as Modified Cross Total Index (MCT), Modified Vertical Total Index (MVT), Modified Total Totals Index (MTT), Modified SWEAT Index (MSWI), Modified K-Index (MKI) and Modified Energy Index (MEI) show greater instability of the troposphere in the morning as compared to CT, VT, TT, SWI, KI and EI. The critical values of different modified instability indices at 0000 UTC over Dhaka are: MCT >= 20° C, MVT >= 26° C, MTT >= 46° C, MSWI > 300, MKI >= 40° C and MEI < -6 joules/gm respectively for the nor’westers to occur in Bangladesh. The spatial distributions of modified stability indices have revealed that maximum instability lies over the area of surface low pressure especially over Bihar, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh at 0000 UTC on the dates of occurrence of nor’westers. Nor’westers occur at the
eastern end of the maximum instability.

For severe nor’westers of tornadic intensity, the critical values of different modified instability indices at 0000 UTC over Dhaka are: MCT >= 20° C, MVT >= 28° C, MTT >= 50° C, MSWI >= 500, MKI >= 42° C and MEI < -8 joules/gm respectively for the nor’westers to occur in Bangladesh.