Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Tornadoes are one of the most severe meteorological phenomena on the earth and their high winds cause serious damage to society. It is well known that vortices (mesocyclone or misocyclone, depending on their scale) in convective clouds contribute to tornadogenesis. High temporal resolution radar obs...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/21/5293 |
| _version_ | 1797466689897496576 |
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| author | Ryusho Imai Nobuhiro Takahashi |
| author_facet | Ryusho Imai Nobuhiro Takahashi |
| author_sort | Ryusho Imai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tornadoes are one of the most severe meteorological phenomena on the earth and their high winds cause serious damage to society. It is well known that vortices (mesocyclone or misocyclone, depending on their scale) in convective clouds contribute to tornadogenesis. High temporal resolution radar observations are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of tornadogenesis because convective clouds change drastically over time. This study focused on waterspouts that occurred on 15 May 2017 near Okinawa, Japan. Using Phased Array Weather Radar (PAWR) data, which provide three-dimensional data with high temporal resolution (every 30 s), radar reflectivity factors and Doppler velocity data were used to detect the three-dimensional structure of vortices. Using PAWR data, vorticities and diameters of these misocyclones were detected every 30 s and their potential vorticities, which are only possible because of the three-dimensional observation by PAWR, were calculated to understand the vortex generation and advection. The structures of two misocyclones (MC1 and MC2) were detected from Doppler velocity patterns. Combined with the radar reflectivity analysis, MC2 can be divided into two misocyclones (MC2a and MC2b). Potential vorticity of MC1 increased with time, probably because an outflow from the strong echo enhanced the lower horizontal shear. Potential vorticities in MC2a and MC2b were conserved in each period, with MC2b being nearly twice as large as MC2a. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:42:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c09398a68ff4165a2277f4f71df0536 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:42:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c09398a68ff4165a2277f4f71df05362023-11-24T06:36:43ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-10-011421529310.3390/rs14215293Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, JapanRyusho Imai0Nobuhiro Takahashi1Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, JapanInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, JapanTornadoes are one of the most severe meteorological phenomena on the earth and their high winds cause serious damage to society. It is well known that vortices (mesocyclone or misocyclone, depending on their scale) in convective clouds contribute to tornadogenesis. High temporal resolution radar observations are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of tornadogenesis because convective clouds change drastically over time. This study focused on waterspouts that occurred on 15 May 2017 near Okinawa, Japan. Using Phased Array Weather Radar (PAWR) data, which provide three-dimensional data with high temporal resolution (every 30 s), radar reflectivity factors and Doppler velocity data were used to detect the three-dimensional structure of vortices. Using PAWR data, vorticities and diameters of these misocyclones were detected every 30 s and their potential vorticities, which are only possible because of the three-dimensional observation by PAWR, were calculated to understand the vortex generation and advection. The structures of two misocyclones (MC1 and MC2) were detected from Doppler velocity patterns. Combined with the radar reflectivity analysis, MC2 can be divided into two misocyclones (MC2a and MC2b). Potential vorticity of MC1 increased with time, probably because an outflow from the strong echo enhanced the lower horizontal shear. Potential vorticities in MC2a and MC2b were conserved in each period, with MC2b being nearly twice as large as MC2a.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/21/5293waterspoutphased array radarmisocyclone |
| spellingShingle | Ryusho Imai Nobuhiro Takahashi Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan Remote Sensing waterspout phased array radar misocyclone |
| title | Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| title_full | Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| title_short | Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Structure of the Misocyclones Generating Waterspouts Observed by Phased Array Weather Radar: Case Study on 15 May 2017 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| title_sort | analysis of the three dimensional structure of the misocyclones generating waterspouts observed by phased array weather radar case study on 15 may 2017 in okinawa prefecture japan |
| topic | waterspout phased array radar misocyclone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/21/5293 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ryushoimai analysisofthethreedimensionalstructureofthemisocyclonesgeneratingwaterspoutsobservedbyphasedarrayweatherradarcasestudyon15may2017inokinawaprefecturejapan AT nobuhirotakahashi analysisofthethreedimensionalstructureofthemisocyclonesgeneratingwaterspoutsobservedbyphasedarrayweatherradarcasestudyon15may2017inokinawaprefecturejapan |