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<br />200 km long. Tropical convective cloud clusters studied by Leary and <br />Houze (1979) and by Ruprecht and Gray (1976) also tended to be larger <br />and of longer duration than those studied here. They found maximum <br />horizontal dimensions of mesoscale precipitation features of 190 to <br />580 km, having durations of 8 to 24 h. <br /> <br />1.3 Goals <br /> <br />The general goal of this research is to understand the relationship <br />between the mesoscale dynamics of cell generation and interaction, and <br />the evolution and efficiency of precipitation mechanisms within convec- <br />tive cells. Emphasis is placed on the meso-~ scale rawinsonde analysis <br />of dynamic and kinematic effects on convective cell development and the <br />resulting rainfall. <br /> <br />This research is designed to better explain the natural variability <br />of convective precipitation classified into more homogeneous mesoscale <br />types using satellite imagery. Three basic physical characteristics <br />are described: <br /> <br />a. Atmospheric structure leading to moist convective processes, <br />b. Time and space scales of convective cell initiation and <br />development, and <br />c. Effect of mesoscale kinematics on convective thermodynamics <br />and precipitation. <br /> <br />1.3.1 Objectives <br /> <br />This research focuses on the major effects of lifting on the <br />convective thermodynamics which largely control available buoyant <br /> <br />8 <br />