Lectures from the AMS Educational Forum

"A Primer on Radar Analysis Techniques Used in Mesoscale Meteorology"
23 October 2005 - Albuquerque, NM

This forum focused on how advanced techniques for the analysis of meteorological radar data can be used to improve understanding of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of mesoscale circulations. This site, made available by The COMET^® Program, contains each presenter’s source PowerPoint files.

Top row, left to right:
Mark Stoelinga, Paul Neiman, Dave Jorgensen, Brad Smull, Alan Shapiro
Bottom row, left to right:
Roger Wakimoto, Anthony Illingworth, V. Chandrasekar, Juanzhen Sun, Wen-Chau Lee

= Intermediate | = Advanced

SESSION 1:
Microphysical Characterization of Precipitation Systems Using Dual-Polarization Radar Measurements

Rain Rate Estimation from Dual-Polarisation Radar Observations

Presented by Anthony Illingworth
Reading University
Dept. of Meteorology

Overview:
1) Why is it Hard to Obtain Rain Rate from Z
2) Defining Dual-polarisation Parameters
3) Parameters' Accuracy
4) Obtaining More Accurate Rainfall Estimates (part 1)
5) Obtaining More Accurate Rainfall Estimates (part 2)
6) Unwanted Backscatter and Attenuation
This presentation will be of interest to anyone working with interpreting Doppler radar data.

Microphysical Characterization of Precipitation Systems using Dual-Polarization Radar Measurements: Hydrometeor Identification

Presented by V. Chandrasekar
Colorado State University
Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences

SESSION 2:
Single Doppler Retrieval and Assimilation Techniques for Use in Mesoscale Models

Single-Doppler Radar Velocity Retrieval

Presented by Alan Shapiro
University of Oklahoma
School of Meteorology

Overview:
1) Introduction and Constraints
2) Synthetic Dual-Doppler & Linear Spatial Models
3) TREC and VET Techniques
4) Moving Reference Frames
5) Adjoint Methods and Summary
This presentation provides a very useful overview of single Doppler velocity retrieval methods and issues.

Assimilation of Radar Data into NWP Models

Presented by Juanzhen Sun
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Earth & Sun Systems Laboratory

Overview:
1) Introduction and Background
2) Fundamentals of Data Assimilation
3) Assimilation of Radar-based Winds
4) Assimilation of Radar-based Winds with 4D-Var
5) Assimilation of Z and Derived Rainwater
6) Summary and Future Challenges.
This presentation provides an excellent discussion of the state of the art and remaining challenges related to atmospheric science data assimilation into NWP models with an emphasis on radar observations.

SESSION 3:
Analysis of Mesoscale Processes Using Wind Profiling Radars and Velocity Azimuth Display (VAD)

Mesoscale Structure and Dynamics of Topographic and Boundary-Layer Circulation Systems Revealed by Wind Profilers

Presented by Paul Neiman
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Environmental Technology Laboratory

Overview:
1) Wind Retrieval Techniques
2) Applications: Avg. vs. Moment-level Winds
3) Applications: Vertical-beam Data in Clear Air
4) Applications: Vertical-beam Data Hydrometeor Detection
5) Applications: Air Quality and Cloud Detection
6) Applications: Orographic Precip. & Long-term Compositing
7) Future Plans
The presentation provides an excellent overview of vertical wind profiler techniques and their many applications.

The Use of Profilers and VAD to Study the Structure and Dynamics of Split Cold Fronts and Cold Fronts Aloft

Presented by Mark Stoelinga
University of Washington
Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences

Overview:
1) Introduction to Upper Cold Fronts
2) Radar-based Wind Profiles
3) Thermal Wind-based Retrievals: Introduction
4) Thermal Wind-based Retrievals: Case Examples
5) Thermal Wind-based Retrievals: The "Perfect" CFA Case
6) Divergence-equation-based Retrievals & Conclusion
This presentation provides an overview of CFA’s and includes valuable examples as detected using radar-based wind profiler techniques.

SESSION 4:
Airborne Doppler Radar Analysis of Tropical and Extratropical Mesoscale Systems

Introduction to Airborne Doppler Radar Platforms and Systems

Presented by David Jorgensen
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Severe Storms Laboratory

Overview:
This presentation provides an introduction to airborne Doppler radar. If you are unfamiliar with airborne Doppler radar techniques, this presentation would be very helpful, especially before exploring any of the other talks in this session.

Overview of the Derivation of Pseudo-dual-Doppler Wind Fields and Sources of Uncertainty

Presented by Wen-Chau Lee
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Earth Observing Laboratory

Overview:
1) Coordinate Systems and Transformation
2) Aircraft Motion Removal & Navigation Correction
3) Navigation Correction
4) Pseudo-dual Doppler and Quad-Doppler Analysis
This presentation is invaluable for students and researchers interested in working with airborne meteorological radar-based datasets.

Airborne Doppler Radar Observations of Precipitation Systems Over Complex Terrain: Practical Considerations and Achievable Results

Presented by Brad Smull
University of Washington
Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences

Overview:
1) Motivation & Review of Results from SCPP and MAP
2) Data Renavigation over Complex Terrain and Removing Artifacts
3) Valley Flows & Basin-wide Mass Budget Analysis from MAP IOP8
4) Observational-model Comparisons from IMPROVE-2
5) Future Opportunities and Challenges
This presentation would be of great interest to students and researchers interested in working with airborne Doppler radar datasets in regions of complex terrain.

Applications to Convective Storm and Frontal Systems

Presented by Roger Wakimoto
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Earth Observing Laboratory

Overview:
1) Flight Strategies
2) Cold-frontal Rainbands
3) Supercell Storms (VORTEX)
4) Mesocyclones (BAMEX)
This presentation contains many interesting observations and interpretations of cold fronts, severe storms, and tornadoes that should be of interest to a wide audience.

Tropical and Extratropical Mesoscale System Applications