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Rear-inflow jet

Rear-inflow jet is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Rear-inflow jet rather than just read about it. In short: The rear-inflow jet is a component of bow echoes in a mesoscale convective system that aids in creating a stronger cold pool and downdraft. The jet forms as a response to a convective circulation having upshear tilt and horizontal pressure gradients.

Rear-inflow jet — main illustration
Rear-inflow jet — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Rear-inflow jet belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Rear-inflow jet to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Rear-inflow jet from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The rear-inflow jet is a component of bow echoes in a mesoscale convective system that aids in creating a stronger cold pool and downdraft. The jet forms as a response to a convective circulation having upshear tilt and horizontal pressure gradients. The cold pool that comes from the outflow of a storm forms an area of high pressure at the surface. In response to the surface high and warmer temperatures aloft due to convection, a mid-level mesolow forms behind the leading edge of the storm. With a mid-level area of low pressure, air is drawn in under the trailing stratiform region of precipitation. As air is drawn in on the rear side of the storm, it begins to descend as it approaches the front line of the cells. Before reaching the leading edge, the jet descends to the surface as a strong downdraft, creating straight-line winds. Any mature mesoscale convective system is capable of developing its own rear-inflow jet, but questions remain as to what influences the strength of the jet. While the diabatic effects of sublimation, melting and evaporation play a role in influencing jet strength, these effects do not account for cases with strong rear-inflow jets. However, the diabatic effects are responsible for the jet subsiding behind the leading edge of the MCS. The sinking of the jet first starts when the mid level inflow goes under the trailing stratiform cloud before descending to the melting layer. There are other factors that contribute to the strength of any rear inflow jet. The strength of a rear inflow jet can be greatly increased with induced vortices at the end of the line, called "line-end vortices" or "book-end vortices." These vortices at either end of the line will help reinforce the rear inflow towards the center of the line. The other factor that can help strengthen the jet is an environment in which the large scale flow is feeding/forcing mid-level air into the rear end of the storm.

See also

Convective storm detection Derecho Line echo wave pattern Mesovortex

References

Further reading Jorgensen, Murphy and Wakimoto. "Rear Inflow Evolution in a Non-Severe Bow Echo Observed by Airborne Doppler Radar During Bamex." Houze and Smull. "Rear Inflow in Squall Lines with Trailing Stratiform Precipitation" American Meteorological Society, 1987. Harder, Jason. "Enhancement of the Downdraft" University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998.

Illustrations

Rear-inflow jet: Conceptual airflow in a squall line with the Rear-inflow jet shown
Conceptual airflow in a squall line with the Rear-inflow jet shown
Rear-inflow jet: Rear-inflow notch caused by the sinking of the jet behind a bow echo line
Rear-inflow notch caused by the sinking of the jet behind a bow echo line

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Rear-inflow jet

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Rear-inflow jet claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Rear-inflow jet before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Rear-inflow jet ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Rear-inflow jet

In research
Rear-inflow jet appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Rear-inflow jet in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Rear-inflow jet is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Mesoscale meteorology, Radar meteorology, Severe weather and convection, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Rear-inflow jet outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Rear-inflow jet in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Rear-inflow jet means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Rear-inflow jet out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rear-inflow jet in simple terms?

The rear-inflow jet is a component of bow echoes in a mesoscale convective system that aids in creating a stronger cold pool and downdraft. The jet forms as a response to a convective circulation having upshear tilt and horizontal pressure gradients.

Why does Rear-inflow jet matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Rear-inflow jet?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Rear-inflow jet.

Tags

  • Mesoscale meteorology
  • Radar meteorology
  • Severe weather and convection

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