implied reliably through these data. Unique kinematic and
microphysical structures exist as a function of the life cycle
of MCSs. Because many MCSs moved faster than AEWs,
and therefore interaction with more than one phase of an
AEW was possible, aliasing of life-cycle characteristics was
also possible. Despite this constraint, many useful details
have been learned regarding the difference in characteristics
of convection as a function of AEW phase and when no
wave is present.
The extent of the free tropospheric moisture conditions
have been suggested to play an important role in the
variability of convection at synoptic scales (e.g. Roca et al.,
2005; Lafore et al., 2011). Future work characterizing the
changes in thermodynamic and dynamic environmental
structure on a regional scale similar to this study could
help to illuminate scale interactions before, when, and after
convection is present.
Analysis of the variability involved in the zonal and
meridional convective and microphysical characteristics
may help to improve West African model simulations
and precipitation retrieval algorithms, especially over
continental Africa where observations are sparse. Combined
observations and simulations of convective systems in the
different regions studied here would help the understanding
of microphysical processes involved in precipitation
production and convective maintenance in each region.
Analysis of the melting layer, where both ice and liquid
water exist, is important in understanding convective