Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

An Improved Time Interpolation for Three-Dimensional Doppler Wind Analysis

Shun Liu Department of Atmospheric Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China, and Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Chongjian Qiu Atmosphere Department, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

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Qin Xu National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Pengfei Zhang Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Print Publication:
01 Oct 2004
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAM2150.1
Page(s):
1379–1391
Restricted access

Abstract

A temporal interpolation is required for three-dimensional Doppler wind analysis when the precise measurement time is counted for each radar beam position. The time interpolation is traditionally done by a linear scheme either in the measurement space or in the analysis space. Because a volume scan often takes 5–10 min, the linear time interpolation is not accurate enough to capture the rapidly changing winds associated with a fast-moving and fast-growing storm. Performing the linear interpolation in a frame moving with the storm can reduce the error, but the analyzed wind field is traditionally assumed to be stationary in the moving frame. The stationary assumption simplifies the computation but ignores the time variation of the true wind field in the moving frame. By incorporating a linear time interpolation into the moving frame wind analysis, an improved scheme is developed. The merits of the new scheme are demonstrated by idealized examples and numerical experiments with simulated radar observations. The new scheme is also applied to real radar data for a supercell storm.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Qin Xu, National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069. qin.xu@noaa.gov

Abstract

A temporal interpolation is required for three-dimensional Doppler wind analysis when the precise measurement time is counted for each radar beam position. The time interpolation is traditionally done by a linear scheme either in the measurement space or in the analysis space. Because a volume scan often takes 5–10 min, the linear time interpolation is not accurate enough to capture the rapidly changing winds associated with a fast-moving and fast-growing storm. Performing the linear interpolation in a frame moving with the storm can reduce the error, but the analyzed wind field is traditionally assumed to be stationary in the moving frame. The stationary assumption simplifies the computation but ignores the time variation of the true wind field in the moving frame. By incorporating a linear time interpolation into the moving frame wind analysis, an improved scheme is developed. The merits of the new scheme are demonstrated by idealized examples and numerical experiments with simulated radar observations. The new scheme is also applied to real radar data for a supercell storm.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Qin Xu, National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069. qin.xu@noaa.gov

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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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