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- Author or Editor: D. C. Welsh x
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Abstract
The effects of spatial, combined spatial and temporal sampling errors, and wind measurement errors on profiler-derived divergence estimates computed using the linear vector point function method are examined. Analysis indicates that divergence errors are minimized when the ratio between the spacing of the profilers and the sampled wavelength (Δx/Lx ) is between 0.15 and 0.24 and the ratio between the profiler sampling time to the timescale of the weather system (Δt/T) is less than 0.055.
When Δx/Lx ≤ 0.24, synoptic-scale divergence smaller than ±1.0 × 10−5 s−1 cannot be measured, because the error in the profiler wind estimates is larger than the horizontal velocity gradients. The expected errors in divergence calculations given typical profiler spatial and temporal sampling strategies are examined.
Abstract
The effects of spatial, combined spatial and temporal sampling errors, and wind measurement errors on profiler-derived divergence estimates computed using the linear vector point function method are examined. Analysis indicates that divergence errors are minimized when the ratio between the spacing of the profilers and the sampled wavelength (Δx/Lx ) is between 0.15 and 0.24 and the ratio between the profiler sampling time to the timescale of the weather system (Δt/T) is less than 0.055.
When Δx/Lx ≤ 0.24, synoptic-scale divergence smaller than ±1.0 × 10−5 s−1 cannot be measured, because the error in the profiler wind estimates is larger than the horizontal velocity gradients. The expected errors in divergence calculations given typical profiler spatial and temporal sampling strategies are examined.
Abstract
A new method for estimating winds and radio acoustic sounding system temperatures from radar Doppler measurements for the new NOAA wind profilers is described. This method emphasizes the quality of 6-min measurements prior to the computation of hourly averages. Compared with the older method currently being used, this new method provides measurements exhibiting better consistency and more complete coverage over height and time. Furthermore, it corrects aliased measurements.
Abstract
A new method for estimating winds and radio acoustic sounding system temperatures from radar Doppler measurements for the new NOAA wind profilers is described. This method emphasizes the quality of 6-min measurements prior to the computation of hourly averages. Compared with the older method currently being used, this new method provides measurements exhibiting better consistency and more complete coverage over height and time. Furthermore, it corrects aliased measurements.
Abstract
The design, construction, and first results are presented of a 915-MHz Doppler wind profiler that may be mounted on a moving platform such as a mobile land vehicle, ocean buoy, or a ship. The long dwell times in multiple beam directions, required for the detection of weak atmospheric radar echoes, are obtained by a passive phased array antenna, controlled by a motion control and monitoring (MCM) computer that acquires platform motion measurements and compensates in real time for the platform rotations. The platform translational velocities are accounted for in the signal processing system (SPS) before the calculation of the wind velocity profiles. The phased array antenna, MCM, and SPS are described, and radar-derived wind profiles are compared with those from rawinsonde balloons released during the first test cruise of the system, as the NOAA R/V Ronald H. Brown performed ship maneuvers.
Abstract
The design, construction, and first results are presented of a 915-MHz Doppler wind profiler that may be mounted on a moving platform such as a mobile land vehicle, ocean buoy, or a ship. The long dwell times in multiple beam directions, required for the detection of weak atmospheric radar echoes, are obtained by a passive phased array antenna, controlled by a motion control and monitoring (MCM) computer that acquires platform motion measurements and compensates in real time for the platform rotations. The platform translational velocities are accounted for in the signal processing system (SPS) before the calculation of the wind velocity profiles. The phased array antenna, MCM, and SPS are described, and radar-derived wind profiles are compared with those from rawinsonde balloons released during the first test cruise of the system, as the NOAA R/V Ronald H. Brown performed ship maneuvers.
Abstract
Networks of radars that point almost vertically and continuously measure the vertical profile of the horizontal wind will, in the future, be operated at many locations around the world. Although such radars are designed to measure the Doppler-sensed movement of clear-air refractive-index inhomogeneities, they are an exceptional tool for sensing precipitating ice and water particles in clouds. Because of the low detection threshold and long averaging time of these radars water-particle-size distributions can be measured down to 100-µm diameter and mean vertical fall velocities Vf as small as 0.2 m s−1 can be accurately measured. In this paper, data are presented from two events in which clouds form, intensify, and finally produce precipitation. Height profiles are analyzed in terms of ZRVf plots versus height, where Z is the radar reflectivity factor and R is liquid flux (rainfall rate). The observations provide new insight into drop-growth and breakup processes. Special attention is given to the transition zone through the melting level. It is shown how these radars can provide 1) cloud-layer structure above lower overcast, 2) height profiles of liquid mean drop size, 3) the ice-water transition level compared with the 0° isotherm, 4) height profiles of rain rate, and 5) inferences about the identity of hydrometeors versus height.
Abstract
Networks of radars that point almost vertically and continuously measure the vertical profile of the horizontal wind will, in the future, be operated at many locations around the world. Although such radars are designed to measure the Doppler-sensed movement of clear-air refractive-index inhomogeneities, they are an exceptional tool for sensing precipitating ice and water particles in clouds. Because of the low detection threshold and long averaging time of these radars water-particle-size distributions can be measured down to 100-µm diameter and mean vertical fall velocities Vf as small as 0.2 m s−1 can be accurately measured. In this paper, data are presented from two events in which clouds form, intensify, and finally produce precipitation. Height profiles are analyzed in terms of ZRVf plots versus height, where Z is the radar reflectivity factor and R is liquid flux (rainfall rate). The observations provide new insight into drop-growth and breakup processes. Special attention is given to the transition zone through the melting level. It is shown how these radars can provide 1) cloud-layer structure above lower overcast, 2) height profiles of liquid mean drop size, 3) the ice-water transition level compared with the 0° isotherm, 4) height profiles of rain rate, and 5) inferences about the identity of hydrometeors versus height.
Abstract
Horizontal winds in the presence of precipitation were measured routinely with a UHF (405 MHz) Wind Profiler. The profiler had five beam-pointing positions so independent measurements of horizontal winds could be compared to determine relative accuracy and precision. Large precipitation fall speeds are shown to cause very large errors (on the order of tens of meters per second) in the horizontal wind estimates when those fall speeds are not properly included in the estimates. But when the precipitation fall speeds are properly included, the errors are much smaller (2–4 m s−1), approaching those of clear air (1 m s−1). The decrease in the precision in precipitation is attributed largely to horizontal nonuniformity in precipitation from one antenna beam to another. A 4- or 5-beam profiler can detect conditions of horizontal inhomogeneity by virtue of its ability to make independent measurements of the winds from horizontally separated scattering volumes.
Abstract
Horizontal winds in the presence of precipitation were measured routinely with a UHF (405 MHz) Wind Profiler. The profiler had five beam-pointing positions so independent measurements of horizontal winds could be compared to determine relative accuracy and precision. Large precipitation fall speeds are shown to cause very large errors (on the order of tens of meters per second) in the horizontal wind estimates when those fall speeds are not properly included in the estimates. But when the precipitation fall speeds are properly included, the errors are much smaller (2–4 m s−1), approaching those of clear air (1 m s−1). The decrease in the precision in precipitation is attributed largely to horizontal nonuniformity in precipitation from one antenna beam to another. A 4- or 5-beam profiler can detect conditions of horizontal inhomogeneity by virtue of its ability to make independent measurements of the winds from horizontally separated scattering volumes.
Abstract
Two independent wind profiles were measured every hour during February 1986 with a five-beam, UHF (405 MHz) wind Profiler at Platteville, Colorado. Our analysis of the horizontal wind components over all heights for the entire month gave a standard deviation of about 1.3 m s−1 for the measurement errors one can expect for three-beam Profilers in clear air. This study demonstrated that it is important to include the effects of large vertical motion (caused by gravity waves or precipitation in the horizontal wind component measurements. These vertical motions were large enough to raise the error in the horizontal wind components to 1.7 m s−1 in two-beam configurations where no corrections are made for the vertical motion.
Abstract
Two independent wind profiles were measured every hour during February 1986 with a five-beam, UHF (405 MHz) wind Profiler at Platteville, Colorado. Our analysis of the horizontal wind components over all heights for the entire month gave a standard deviation of about 1.3 m s−1 for the measurement errors one can expect for three-beam Profilers in clear air. This study demonstrated that it is important to include the effects of large vertical motion (caused by gravity waves or precipitation in the horizontal wind component measurements. These vertical motions were large enough to raise the error in the horizontal wind components to 1.7 m s−1 in two-beam configurations where no corrections are made for the vertical motion.
Abstract
Observations of cirrus and altocumulus clouds during the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project Regional Experiment (FIRE) are compared to theoretical models of cloud radiative properties. Three tests are performed. First, Landsat radiances are used to compare the relationship between nadir reflectance at 0.83 μm and beam emittance at 11.5 μm with that predicted by model calculations using spherical and nonspherical phase functions. Good agreement is found between observations and theory when water droplets dominate. Poor agreement is found when ice particles dominate, especially if scattering phase functions for spherical particles am used. Even when compared to a laboratory measured ice particle phase function (Volkovitskiy et al. 1980), the observations show increased side scattered radiation relative to the theoretical calculations. Second, the anisotropy of conservatively scattered radiation is examined using simultaneous multiple-angle views of the cirrus from Landsat and ER-2 aircraft radiometers. Observed anisotropy gives good agreement with theoretical calculations using the laboratory measured ice-particle phase function and poor agreement with a spherical-particle phase function. Third, Landsat radiances at 0.83 μm, 1.65 μm, and 2.21 μm are used to infer particle phase and particle size. For water droplets, good agreement is found with King Air FSSP particle probe measurements in the cloud. For ice particles, the Landsat radiance observations predict an effective radius of 60 μm versus aircraft observations of about 200 μm. It is suggested that this discrepancy may be explained by uncertainty in the imaginary index of ice and by inadequate measurements of small ice particles by microphysical probes.
Abstract
Observations of cirrus and altocumulus clouds during the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project Regional Experiment (FIRE) are compared to theoretical models of cloud radiative properties. Three tests are performed. First, Landsat radiances are used to compare the relationship between nadir reflectance at 0.83 μm and beam emittance at 11.5 μm with that predicted by model calculations using spherical and nonspherical phase functions. Good agreement is found between observations and theory when water droplets dominate. Poor agreement is found when ice particles dominate, especially if scattering phase functions for spherical particles am used. Even when compared to a laboratory measured ice particle phase function (Volkovitskiy et al. 1980), the observations show increased side scattered radiation relative to the theoretical calculations. Second, the anisotropy of conservatively scattered radiation is examined using simultaneous multiple-angle views of the cirrus from Landsat and ER-2 aircraft radiometers. Observed anisotropy gives good agreement with theoretical calculations using the laboratory measured ice-particle phase function and poor agreement with a spherical-particle phase function. Third, Landsat radiances at 0.83 μm, 1.65 μm, and 2.21 μm are used to infer particle phase and particle size. For water droplets, good agreement is found with King Air FSSP particle probe measurements in the cloud. For ice particles, the Landsat radiance observations predict an effective radius of 60 μm versus aircraft observations of about 200 μm. It is suggested that this discrepancy may be explained by uncertainty in the imaginary index of ice and by inadequate measurements of small ice particles by microphysical probes.
