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- Author or Editor: N. Prasad x
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Abstract
The evolution of precipitation in seeded wintertime orographically induced convective and stratiform clouds with embedded convection were studied using in situ observations and particle growth and trajectory models. The particle growth model of Heymsfield embedded in a kinematic flow field representative of the Sierra barrier was used to study the ice particle growth by diffusion, accretion and subsequent fall trajectories. The particles observed by the aircraft were classified into habits. The growth of observed particles were compared with the model predicted evolution. Using the aggregation model of Heymsfield, the observation of formation of aggregates in <10 minutes was verified. The key findings of this study were.. (i) Aggregates (>1 mm) form in 4–8 minutes after seeding a convective cloud. (ii) Riming is important close to the barrier in a stratiform cloud when large cloud droplets and liquid water up to 0.3 g m−3 are present. (iii) Diffusional growth is extremely important for temperatures near −15°C in these low liquid water content clouds. The particles grow to ∼2 mm when released from just colder than −15°C, and to ∼1 mm when falling from warmer than −15°C.
Abstract
The evolution of precipitation in seeded wintertime orographically induced convective and stratiform clouds with embedded convection were studied using in situ observations and particle growth and trajectory models. The particle growth model of Heymsfield embedded in a kinematic flow field representative of the Sierra barrier was used to study the ice particle growth by diffusion, accretion and subsequent fall trajectories. The particles observed by the aircraft were classified into habits. The growth of observed particles were compared with the model predicted evolution. Using the aggregation model of Heymsfield, the observation of formation of aggregates in <10 minutes was verified. The key findings of this study were.. (i) Aggregates (>1 mm) form in 4–8 minutes after seeding a convective cloud. (ii) Riming is important close to the barrier in a stratiform cloud when large cloud droplets and liquid water up to 0.3 g m−3 are present. (iii) Diffusional growth is extremely important for temperatures near −15°C in these low liquid water content clouds. The particles grow to ∼2 mm when released from just colder than −15°C, and to ∼1 mm when falling from warmer than −15°C.
Abstract
Strong bidirectional internal solitary waves (ISWs) generate from a shallow channel between Car Nicobar and Chowra Islands of Nicobar Islands, India, and propagate toward the Andaman Sea (eastward) and Bay of Bengal (westward). Batti Malv Island separates this shallow channel into two ridges, north of Batti Malv (NBM) and south of Batti Malv (SBM). First, this study identifies the prominent mode-1 and mode-2 ISWs emerging from NBM and SBM using synthetic aperture radar images and then explores their generation mechanism(s) using a nonlinear, unstructured, and nonhydrostatic model, SUNTANS. During spring tide, flow over NBM is supercritical with respect to mode-1 internal wave. Model simulations reveal that mode-1 ISWs are generated at NBM by a “lee wave mechanism” and propagate both in the east and west directions depending on the tidal phases. However, the flow over SBM is subcritical with respect to mode-1 internal wave. The bidirectional propagating mode-1 ISWs evolve from a long-wave disturbance induced by “upstream influence.” But, during spring tide, with an increased tidal flow over SBM, it is observed that the westward propagating ISWs are formed by a dispersed hydraulic jump observed over the ridge. Moreover, the bidirectional mode-2 waves from SBM are generated by a lee wave mechanism. An energy budget comparison reveals that the region surrounding NBM is efficient in radiating low-mode baroclinic energy (0.98 GW), while SBM is highly efficient in converting barotropic to baroclinic energy (4.1 GW).
Abstract
Strong bidirectional internal solitary waves (ISWs) generate from a shallow channel between Car Nicobar and Chowra Islands of Nicobar Islands, India, and propagate toward the Andaman Sea (eastward) and Bay of Bengal (westward). Batti Malv Island separates this shallow channel into two ridges, north of Batti Malv (NBM) and south of Batti Malv (SBM). First, this study identifies the prominent mode-1 and mode-2 ISWs emerging from NBM and SBM using synthetic aperture radar images and then explores their generation mechanism(s) using a nonlinear, unstructured, and nonhydrostatic model, SUNTANS. During spring tide, flow over NBM is supercritical with respect to mode-1 internal wave. Model simulations reveal that mode-1 ISWs are generated at NBM by a “lee wave mechanism” and propagate both in the east and west directions depending on the tidal phases. However, the flow over SBM is subcritical with respect to mode-1 internal wave. The bidirectional propagating mode-1 ISWs evolve from a long-wave disturbance induced by “upstream influence.” But, during spring tide, with an increased tidal flow over SBM, it is observed that the westward propagating ISWs are formed by a dispersed hydraulic jump observed over the ridge. Moreover, the bidirectional mode-2 waves from SBM are generated by a lee wave mechanism. An energy budget comparison reveals that the region surrounding NBM is efficient in radiating low-mode baroclinic energy (0.98 GW), while SBM is highly efficient in converting barotropic to baroclinic energy (4.1 GW).
Abstract
A three-dimensional cloud model, radiative transfer model-based simulation system is tested and validated against the aircraft-based radiance observations of an intense convective system in southeastern Virginia on 29 June 1986 during the Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment. NASA's ER-2, a high-altitude researchaircraft with a complement of radiometers operating at 1 I-pm infrared channel and IS-, 37-, 92-, and 183-GHz microwave channels provided data for this study. The cloud model successfully simulated the cloud systemwith regard to aircraft- and radar-observed cloud-top heights and diameters and with regard to radar-observed reflectivity structure. For the simulation time found to correspond best with the aircraft- and radar-observed structure, brightness temperatures Tb are simulated and compared with observations for all the microwave frequencies along with the 1 1 -pm infrared channel. Radiance calculations at the various frequencies correspond well with the aircraft observations in the areas of deep convection. The clustering of 37-174-GHz Tb observationsand the isolation of the 18-GHz values over the convective cores are well simulated by the model. The radiative transfer model, in general, is able to simulate the observations reasonably well from 18 GHz through 174 GHz within all convective areas of the cloud system. When the aircraft-observed 18- and 37-GHz, and 90- and 174-GHz 7's are plotted against each other, the relationships have a gradual difference in the slope due to the differences in the ice particle size in the convective and more stratiform areas of the cloud. The model is ableto capture these differences observed by the aircraft. Brightness temperature-rain rate relationships compare reasonably well with the aircraft observations in terms of the slope of the relationship.The model calculations are also extended to select high-frequency channels at 220, 340, and 400 GHz to simulate the Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer aircraft instrument to be flown in the near future. All three of these frequencies are able to discriminate the convective and anvil portions of the system, providing useful information similar to that from the frequencies below 183 GHz but with potentially enhanced spatial resolution from a satellite platform. In thin clouds, the dominant effect of water vapor is seen at 174, 340, and 400 GHz.In thick cloudy areas, the scattering effect is dominant at 90 and 220 GHz, while the overlying water vapor can attenuate at 174, 340, and 400 GHz. All frequencies (90-400 GHz) show strong signatures in the core.
Abstract
A three-dimensional cloud model, radiative transfer model-based simulation system is tested and validated against the aircraft-based radiance observations of an intense convective system in southeastern Virginia on 29 June 1986 during the Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment. NASA's ER-2, a high-altitude researchaircraft with a complement of radiometers operating at 1 I-pm infrared channel and IS-, 37-, 92-, and 183-GHz microwave channels provided data for this study. The cloud model successfully simulated the cloud systemwith regard to aircraft- and radar-observed cloud-top heights and diameters and with regard to radar-observed reflectivity structure. For the simulation time found to correspond best with the aircraft- and radar-observed structure, brightness temperatures Tb are simulated and compared with observations for all the microwave frequencies along with the 1 1 -pm infrared channel. Radiance calculations at the various frequencies correspond well with the aircraft observations in the areas of deep convection. The clustering of 37-174-GHz Tb observationsand the isolation of the 18-GHz values over the convective cores are well simulated by the model. The radiative transfer model, in general, is able to simulate the observations reasonably well from 18 GHz through 174 GHz within all convective areas of the cloud system. When the aircraft-observed 18- and 37-GHz, and 90- and 174-GHz 7's are plotted against each other, the relationships have a gradual difference in the slope due to the differences in the ice particle size in the convective and more stratiform areas of the cloud. The model is ableto capture these differences observed by the aircraft. Brightness temperature-rain rate relationships compare reasonably well with the aircraft observations in terms of the slope of the relationship.The model calculations are also extended to select high-frequency channels at 220, 340, and 400 GHz to simulate the Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer aircraft instrument to be flown in the near future. All three of these frequencies are able to discriminate the convective and anvil portions of the system, providing useful information similar to that from the frequencies below 183 GHz but with potentially enhanced spatial resolution from a satellite platform. In thin clouds, the dominant effect of water vapor is seen at 174, 340, and 400 GHz.In thick cloudy areas, the scattering effect is dominant at 90 and 220 GHz, while the overlying water vapor can attenuate at 174, 340, and 400 GHz. All frequencies (90-400 GHz) show strong signatures in the core.
Abstract
Aircraft passive microwave observations of deep atmospheric convection at frequencies between 18 and 183 GHz are presented in conjunction with visible and infrared satellite and aircraft observations and ground-based radar observations. Deep convective cores are indicated in the microwave data by negative brightness temperature (TB ) deviations from the land background (270 K) to extreme TB values below 100 K at 37, 92, and 183 GHz and below 200 K at 18 GHz. These TB minima, due to scattering by ice held aloft by the intense updrafts, are well correlated with areas of high radar reflectivity. For this land background case, TB is inversely correlated with rain rate at all frequencies due to TB -ice-rain correlations. Mean ΔT between vertically polarized and horizontally polarized radiance in precipitation areas is approximately 6 K at both 18 GHz and 37 GHz, indicating nonspherical precipitation size ice particles with a preferred horizontal orientation. Convective cores not observed in the visible and infrared data are clearly defined in the microwave observations and borders of convective rain areas are well defined using the high-frequency (90 GHz and greater) microwave observations.
Abstract
Aircraft passive microwave observations of deep atmospheric convection at frequencies between 18 and 183 GHz are presented in conjunction with visible and infrared satellite and aircraft observations and ground-based radar observations. Deep convective cores are indicated in the microwave data by negative brightness temperature (TB ) deviations from the land background (270 K) to extreme TB values below 100 K at 37, 92, and 183 GHz and below 200 K at 18 GHz. These TB minima, due to scattering by ice held aloft by the intense updrafts, are well correlated with areas of high radar reflectivity. For this land background case, TB is inversely correlated with rain rate at all frequencies due to TB -ice-rain correlations. Mean ΔT between vertically polarized and horizontally polarized radiance in precipitation areas is approximately 6 K at both 18 GHz and 37 GHz, indicating nonspherical precipitation size ice particles with a preferred horizontal orientation. Convective cores not observed in the visible and infrared data are clearly defined in the microwave observations and borders of convective rain areas are well defined using the high-frequency (90 GHz and greater) microwave observations.
Abstract
In Part II of the 29 June 1986 case study, a radiative transfer model is used to simulate the aircraft multichannel microwave brightness temperatures presented in Part I and to study the convective storm structure. Ground-based radar data are used to derive hydrometeor profiles of the storm, based on which the microwave upwelling brightness temperatures are calculated. Various vertical hydrometeor phase profiles and the Marshall and Palmer (M-P) and Sekhon and Srivastava (S-S) ice particle size distributions are experimented in the model. The results are compared with the aircraft radiometric data. The comparison reveals that 1) the M-P distribution well represents the ice particle size distribution, especially in the upper tropospheric portion of the cloud; 2) the S-S distribution appears to better simulate the ice particle size at the lower portion of the cloud, which has a greater effect on the low frequency microwave upwelling brightness temperatures; and 3) in deep convective regions, significant supercooled liquid water (∼0.5 g m−3) may be present up to the −30°C layer, while in less convective areas, frozen hydrometeors are predominant above −10°C level.
Abstract
In Part II of the 29 June 1986 case study, a radiative transfer model is used to simulate the aircraft multichannel microwave brightness temperatures presented in Part I and to study the convective storm structure. Ground-based radar data are used to derive hydrometeor profiles of the storm, based on which the microwave upwelling brightness temperatures are calculated. Various vertical hydrometeor phase profiles and the Marshall and Palmer (M-P) and Sekhon and Srivastava (S-S) ice particle size distributions are experimented in the model. The results are compared with the aircraft radiometric data. The comparison reveals that 1) the M-P distribution well represents the ice particle size distribution, especially in the upper tropospheric portion of the cloud; 2) the S-S distribution appears to better simulate the ice particle size at the lower portion of the cloud, which has a greater effect on the low frequency microwave upwelling brightness temperatures; and 3) in deep convective regions, significant supercooled liquid water (∼0.5 g m−3) may be present up to the −30°C layer, while in less convective areas, frozen hydrometeors are predominant above −10°C level.
Abstract
A three-dimensional cloud model-microwave radiative transfer model combination is used to study the relations among the precipitation and other microphysical characteristics of a tropical oceanic squall line and the upwelling radiance at pertinent microwave frequencies. Complex brightness temperature-rain rate relations are evident at the full horizontal resolution (1.5 km) of the models, with spatial avenging producing smoother, shifted relations, in most cases. Nonprecipitating cloud water is shown to be important in understanding the resulting distribution of brightness temperature. At the mature stage, convective portions of the cloud system are shown to produce different brightness temperature relations than the stratiform portion, primarily related to the distribution of cloud water. The evolution of the convective system from a small convective complex through its mature stage and the beginning of its dissipation also is shown to result in a variation of brightness temperature-rain relations, related to the distribution of cloud water and the evolution of ice in the precipitating system. The results of the study paint to the need to take into account the evolution of nonprecipitating cloud water and precipitation-sized ice in the retrieval of rain team from microwave space observations. This effect is evident for both the life cycle of individual convective elements and the life cycle of the convective system as a whole.
Abstract
A three-dimensional cloud model-microwave radiative transfer model combination is used to study the relations among the precipitation and other microphysical characteristics of a tropical oceanic squall line and the upwelling radiance at pertinent microwave frequencies. Complex brightness temperature-rain rate relations are evident at the full horizontal resolution (1.5 km) of the models, with spatial avenging producing smoother, shifted relations, in most cases. Nonprecipitating cloud water is shown to be important in understanding the resulting distribution of brightness temperature. At the mature stage, convective portions of the cloud system are shown to produce different brightness temperature relations than the stratiform portion, primarily related to the distribution of cloud water. The evolution of the convective system from a small convective complex through its mature stage and the beginning of its dissipation also is shown to result in a variation of brightness temperature-rain relations, related to the distribution of cloud water and the evolution of ice in the precipitating system. The results of the study paint to the need to take into account the evolution of nonprecipitating cloud water and precipitation-sized ice in the retrieval of rain team from microwave space observations. This effect is evident for both the life cycle of individual convective elements and the life cycle of the convective system as a whole.
Abstract
Simulations of observations from potential spaceborne radars are made based on storm structure generated from the three-dimensional (3D) Goddard cumulus ensemble model simulation of an intense overland convective system. Five frequencies of 3, 10, 14, 35, and 95 GHz are discussed, but the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission precipitation radar sensor frequency ( 14 GHz) is the focus of this study. Radar reflectivities and their attenuation in various atmospheric conditions are studied in this simulation. With the attenuation from cloud and precipitation in the estimation of reflectivity factor (dBZ), the reflectivities in the lower atmosphere in the convective coresare significantly reduced. With spatial resolution of 4 km X 4 km, attenuation at 14 GHz may cause as large as a 20-dBZ difference between the simulated measurements of the peak (Zmp) and near-surface reflectivity (Zmp) in the most intense convective region. The Zmp occurs at various altitudes depending on the hydrometeor concentrations and their vertical distribution. Despite the significant attenuation in the intense cores, the presence of the rain maximum is easily detected by using information of Zmp. In the stratiform region, the attenuation is quite limited (usually less than 5 dBZ), and the reduction of reflectivity is mostly related to the actual vertical structure of cloud distribution. Since Zmp suffers severe attenuation and tends to underestimate surface rainfall intensity in convective regions, Zmp can be more representative for rainfall retrieval in the lower atmosphere in these regions. In the stratiform region where attenuation is negligible, however, Zmp tends to overestimate surface rainfall and Zmp is more appropriate for rainfall retrieval. A hybrid technique using a weight between the two rain intensities is testedand found potentially useful for future applications. The estimated surface rain-rate map based on this hybrid approach captures many of the details of the cloud model rain field but still slightly underestimates the rain-rate maximum.
Abstract
Simulations of observations from potential spaceborne radars are made based on storm structure generated from the three-dimensional (3D) Goddard cumulus ensemble model simulation of an intense overland convective system. Five frequencies of 3, 10, 14, 35, and 95 GHz are discussed, but the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission precipitation radar sensor frequency ( 14 GHz) is the focus of this study. Radar reflectivities and their attenuation in various atmospheric conditions are studied in this simulation. With the attenuation from cloud and precipitation in the estimation of reflectivity factor (dBZ), the reflectivities in the lower atmosphere in the convective coresare significantly reduced. With spatial resolution of 4 km X 4 km, attenuation at 14 GHz may cause as large as a 20-dBZ difference between the simulated measurements of the peak (Zmp) and near-surface reflectivity (Zmp) in the most intense convective region. The Zmp occurs at various altitudes depending on the hydrometeor concentrations and their vertical distribution. Despite the significant attenuation in the intense cores, the presence of the rain maximum is easily detected by using information of Zmp. In the stratiform region, the attenuation is quite limited (usually less than 5 dBZ), and the reduction of reflectivity is mostly related to the actual vertical structure of cloud distribution. Since Zmp suffers severe attenuation and tends to underestimate surface rainfall intensity in convective regions, Zmp can be more representative for rainfall retrieval in the lower atmosphere in these regions. In the stratiform region where attenuation is negligible, however, Zmp tends to overestimate surface rainfall and Zmp is more appropriate for rainfall retrieval. A hybrid technique using a weight between the two rain intensities is testedand found potentially useful for future applications. The estimated surface rain-rate map based on this hybrid approach captures many of the details of the cloud model rain field but still slightly underestimates the rain-rate maximum.
Abstract
Ocean state forecast (OSF) along ship routes (OAS) is an advisory service of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) that helps mariners to ensure safe navigation in the Indian Ocean in all seasons as well as in extreme conditions. As there are many users who solely depend on this service for their decision making, it is very important to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the service using the available in situ and satellite observations. This study evaluates the significant wave height (Hs) along the ship track in the Indian Ocean using the ship-mounted wave height meter (SWHM) on board the Oceanographic Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi, and the Cryosat-2 and Jason altimeters. Reliability of the SWHM is confirmed by comparing with collocated buoy and altimeter observations. The comparison along the ship routes using the SWHM shows very good agreement (correlation coefficient > 0.80) in all three oceanic regimes, [the tropical northern Indian Ocean (TNIO), the tropical southern Indian Ocean (TSIO), and extratropical southern Indian Ocean (ETSI)] with respect to the forecasts with a lead time of 48 h. However, the analysis shows ~10% overestimation of forecasted significant wave height in the low wave heights, especially in the TNIO. The forecast is found very reliable and accurate for the three regions during June–September with a higher correlation coefficient (average = 0.88) and a lower scatter index (average = 15%). During other months, overestimation (bias) of lower Hs is visible in the TNIO.
Abstract
Ocean state forecast (OSF) along ship routes (OAS) is an advisory service of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) that helps mariners to ensure safe navigation in the Indian Ocean in all seasons as well as in extreme conditions. As there are many users who solely depend on this service for their decision making, it is very important to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the service using the available in situ and satellite observations. This study evaluates the significant wave height (Hs) along the ship track in the Indian Ocean using the ship-mounted wave height meter (SWHM) on board the Oceanographic Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi, and the Cryosat-2 and Jason altimeters. Reliability of the SWHM is confirmed by comparing with collocated buoy and altimeter observations. The comparison along the ship routes using the SWHM shows very good agreement (correlation coefficient > 0.80) in all three oceanic regimes, [the tropical northern Indian Ocean (TNIO), the tropical southern Indian Ocean (TSIO), and extratropical southern Indian Ocean (ETSI)] with respect to the forecasts with a lead time of 48 h. However, the analysis shows ~10% overestimation of forecasted significant wave height in the low wave heights, especially in the TNIO. The forecast is found very reliable and accurate for the three regions during June–September with a higher correlation coefficient (average = 0.88) and a lower scatter index (average = 15%). During other months, overestimation (bias) of lower Hs is visible in the TNIO.
Abstract
A good understanding of the general circulation features of the oceans, particularly of the coastal waters, and ability to predict the key oceanographic parameters with good accuracy and sufficient lead time are necessary for the safe conduct of maritime activities such as fishing, shipping, and offshore industries. Considering these requirements and buoyed by the advancements in the field of ocean modeling, data assimilation, and ocean observation networks along with the availability of the high-performance computational facility in India, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has set up a “High-Resolution Operational Ocean Forecast and Reanalysis System” (HOOFS) with an aim to provide accurate ocean analysis and forecasts for the public, researchers, and other types of users like navigators and the Indian Coast Guard. Major components of HOOFS are (i) a suite of numerical ocean models configured for the Indian Ocean and the coastal waters using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) for forecasting physical and biogeochemical state of the ocean and (ii) the data assimilation based on local ensemble transform Kalman filter that assimilates in situ and satellite observations in ROMS. Apart from the routine forecasts of key oceanographic parameters, a few important applications such as (i) Potential Fishing Zone forecasting system and (ii) Search and Rescue Aid Tool are also developed as part of the HOOFS project. The architecture of HOOFS, an account of the quality of ocean analysis and forecasts produced by it and important applications developed based on HOOFS are briefly discussed in this article.
Abstract
A good understanding of the general circulation features of the oceans, particularly of the coastal waters, and ability to predict the key oceanographic parameters with good accuracy and sufficient lead time are necessary for the safe conduct of maritime activities such as fishing, shipping, and offshore industries. Considering these requirements and buoyed by the advancements in the field of ocean modeling, data assimilation, and ocean observation networks along with the availability of the high-performance computational facility in India, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has set up a “High-Resolution Operational Ocean Forecast and Reanalysis System” (HOOFS) with an aim to provide accurate ocean analysis and forecasts for the public, researchers, and other types of users like navigators and the Indian Coast Guard. Major components of HOOFS are (i) a suite of numerical ocean models configured for the Indian Ocean and the coastal waters using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) for forecasting physical and biogeochemical state of the ocean and (ii) the data assimilation based on local ensemble transform Kalman filter that assimilates in situ and satellite observations in ROMS. Apart from the routine forecasts of key oceanographic parameters, a few important applications such as (i) Potential Fishing Zone forecasting system and (ii) Search and Rescue Aid Tool are also developed as part of the HOOFS project. The architecture of HOOFS, an account of the quality of ocean analysis and forecasts produced by it and important applications developed based on HOOFS are briefly discussed in this article.
