quote:
MesoscaleBasically means medium-sized relative to the big picture, in other words quite modest compared to, say, a high pressure system which can encompass a large portion of the country (known as "synoptic scale"), but much larger than "microscale" phenomena such as dust devils.
ConvectiveRefers to convection, or showers and thunderstorms and their turbulent upward and downward air motions.
systemIs, well, a system. Just a common word, not a technical meteorological one, but relevant because it's defined as a group of interacting elements comprising a unified whole.
So put it all together and a mesoscale convective system, or MCS, is simply a decent-sized and well-organized area of multiple thunderstorms. (That's the basic explanation; for anyone interested, an in-depth scientific study is here.) MCSs occur around the world, and, when over water and conditions are right, they can develop into tropical cyclones.
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