Article Type:
Research Article

Airborne Doppler Radar Analysis of a TOGA COARE Waterspout Storm

Johannes Verlinde Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1997)125<3008:ADRAOA>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
3008–3017
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Abstract

An airborne Doppler radar analysis of a waterspout parent storm is presented. An 8-min window centered around the time of the visual observation of the waterspout is presented. The waterspout was associated with a small, intense cloud that developed ahead of a squall line. It was observed by radar from a distance of 3 km, with a cross-beam resolution of approximately 70 m. One radar scan cut through the vortex, revealing the structure. The high-resolution dual-Doppler analysis of the Electra Doppler radar was used to investigate the velocity and vorticity structure of the parent storm. These observations were consistent with a low-level vorticity source. No cloud-scale vorticity was observed until the time of the visual observation of the storm.

Corresponding author address: Hans Verlinde, Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, 503 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802-5013.

Abstract

An airborne Doppler radar analysis of a waterspout parent storm is presented. An 8-min window centered around the time of the visual observation of the waterspout is presented. The waterspout was associated with a small, intense cloud that developed ahead of a squall line. It was observed by radar from a distance of 3 km, with a cross-beam resolution of approximately 70 m. One radar scan cut through the vortex, revealing the structure. The high-resolution dual-Doppler analysis of the Electra Doppler radar was used to investigate the velocity and vorticity structure of the parent storm. These observations were consistent with a low-level vorticity source. No cloud-scale vorticity was observed until the time of the visual observation of the storm.

Corresponding author address: Hans Verlinde, Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, 503 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802-5013.

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