Idealized, cloud-resolving numerical modeling experiments are being used to explore the sensitivity of CI to lapse rate, relative humidity, and boundary-normal vertical shear within the cloud-bearing layer. Results indicate that higher lapse rate and higher RH in the cloud-bearing layer are favorable for CI along airmass boundaries. Results also indicate that larger boundary-normal shear directed towards the warm sector is generally more supportive of CI as a result of mesoscale preconditioning by up-shear detrainment of shallow convection.
Observed CI is also being evaluated in an effort to relate the sensitivity of CI to vertical shear that was identified in idealized simulations. This work relies on a database of thunderstorms built using the Thunderstorm Observation by Radar (ThOR) algorithm.