Study of dynamics of the cumulonimbus anvil of large vertical extent

Results are presented of analysis of development of a cumulonimbus cloud anvil with the top height exceeding 18 km, as observed in Central India. The anvil development is studied using the measurements from Meteosat-5 and with the WR-100 radar. Minimum air temperature measured from the satellite at the cloud top level is −105°C. The rate of cloud top height growth is, on average, 0.5 m/s. Horizontal extent of the anvil in the steering flow direction reached 85 km, and rate of the anvil propagation in horizontal direction was equal to 32.4 km/h. The anvil area, after the satellite data, reached 3675 km². After the radar data, horizontal extent of the anvil reached 50 km, maximum area being 600 km². Analysis of discrepancies between the satellite and radar measurements of the anvil area shows that a significant part of the anvil cannot be detected by the WR-100 radar because its potential is not enough high; the satellite measurement data improve significantly quality of information on the Cb characteristics.