Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar

A Vertically Pointing Radar (VPR) has been commissioned and deployed at a number of sites in southern England, to investigate numerically spatial and temporal variations in the vertical reflectivity profile (Z<sub>vp</sub>); particularly those associated with the intersection by the rada...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: I. D. Cluckie, R. J. Griffith, A. Lane, K. A. Tilford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2000-01-01
Series:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/4/565/2000/hess-4-565-2000.pdf
_version_ 1818061761966768128
author I. D. Cluckie
I. D. Cluckie
R. J. Griffith
A. Lane
K. A. Tilford
author_facet I. D. Cluckie
I. D. Cluckie
R. J. Griffith
A. Lane
K. A. Tilford
author_sort I. D. Cluckie
collection DOAJ
description A Vertically Pointing Radar (VPR) has been commissioned and deployed at a number of sites in southern England, to investigate numerically spatial and temporal variations in the vertical reflectivity profile (Z<sub>vp</sub>); particularly those associated with the intersection by the radar beam of a melting layer – the bright band. Comparisons with data from other instrumentation, notably with the S-band research radar at Chilbolton, but also with disdrometer data and rainfall measurements from a number of sophisticated rain gauges, show that VPR scans of the atmosphere provide detailed and reliable quantitative measurements of the Z<sub>vp</sub>. Analysis of a three year archive of Z<sub>vp</sub> data for Manchester has shown a bright band to be present in over 80% of rainfall events, highlighting the extent of the problem of bright band errors in scanning weather radar data. The primary characteristics of the bright band such as the height and magnitude (in dBZ) of the top, bottom and peak are identified objectively from VPR Z<sub>vp</sub> data by an automatic bright band recognition algorithm. It is envisaged that this approach could form the basis of an objective, automatic real time correction procedure for scanning weather radars.</p> <p style='line-height: 20px;'><b>Keywords: </b>Vertically Pointing Radar, weather radar, hydrometeorology, bright-band, melting-layer, vertical radar reflectivity</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-10T13:53:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d92af255e8804996a877fcfb8c392b74
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1027-5606
1607-7938
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T13:53:28Z
publishDate 2000-01-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
spelling doaj.art-d92af255e8804996a877fcfb8c392b742022-12-22T01:46:05ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382000-01-0144565580Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radarI. D. CluckieI. D. CluckieR. J. GriffithA. LaneK. A. TilfordA Vertically Pointing Radar (VPR) has been commissioned and deployed at a number of sites in southern England, to investigate numerically spatial and temporal variations in the vertical reflectivity profile (Z<sub>vp</sub>); particularly those associated with the intersection by the radar beam of a melting layer – the bright band. Comparisons with data from other instrumentation, notably with the S-band research radar at Chilbolton, but also with disdrometer data and rainfall measurements from a number of sophisticated rain gauges, show that VPR scans of the atmosphere provide detailed and reliable quantitative measurements of the Z<sub>vp</sub>. Analysis of a three year archive of Z<sub>vp</sub> data for Manchester has shown a bright band to be present in over 80% of rainfall events, highlighting the extent of the problem of bright band errors in scanning weather radar data. The primary characteristics of the bright band such as the height and magnitude (in dBZ) of the top, bottom and peak are identified objectively from VPR Z<sub>vp</sub> data by an automatic bright band recognition algorithm. It is envisaged that this approach could form the basis of an objective, automatic real time correction procedure for scanning weather radars.</p> <p style='line-height: 20px;'><b>Keywords: </b>Vertically Pointing Radar, weather radar, hydrometeorology, bright-band, melting-layer, vertical radar reflectivity</p>http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/4/565/2000/hess-4-565-2000.pdf
spellingShingle I. D. Cluckie
I. D. Cluckie
R. J. Griffith
A. Lane
K. A. Tilford
Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
title Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
title_full Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
title_fullStr Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
title_full_unstemmed Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
title_short Radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
title_sort radar hydrometeorology using a vertically pointing radar
url http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/4/565/2000/hess-4-565-2000.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT idcluckie radarhydrometeorologyusingaverticallypointingradar
AT idcluckie radarhydrometeorologyusingaverticallypointingradar
AT rjgriffith radarhydrometeorologyusingaverticallypointingradar
AT alane radarhydrometeorologyusingaverticallypointingradar
AT katilford radarhydrometeorologyusingaverticallypointingradar