Boundary layer radar echoes: Origin and applications

James W. Wilson, Tammy M. Weckwerth, Roger M. Wakimoto

Research output: AbstractPaperpeer-review

Abstract

Sensitive research Doppler radars and now the operational WSR-88D and TDWR radars routinely observe clear-air echo in the boundary layer to ranges of at least 50-100 km during the warm season. Clear-air echo is also observed during the cold seasons, however, not as frequently nor to as great a range. It has become routine for both research and operational meteorologists to assume that clear-air echo accurately portrays the actual winds. However, in the case of particulate scattering the accuracy of this assumption is not clear. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first to examine the origin and characteristics of clear-air radar echoes with multi-parameter radar data and second to examine the accuracy of clear-air wind fields derived from Doppler radar data. The radars used for this study are the NCAR multi-weavelenght (S- and X-band) dual-polarization Doppler radar, CP-2, and two C-band Doppler radars, CP-3 and CP-4. Data are presented from Florida and Colorado.

Original languageEnglish
Pages484-486
Number of pages3
StatePublished - 1993
Event26th International Conference on Radar Meteorology - Norman, OK, USA
Duration: May 24 1993May 28 1993

Conference

Conference26th International Conference on Radar Meteorology
CityNorman, OK, USA
Period05/24/9305/28/93

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