Terry J. Schuur

THE JOINT POLARIZATION EXPERIMENT Polarimetric Rainfall Measurements and Hydrometeor Classification

As part of the evolution and future enhancement of the Next Generation Weather Radars (NEXRAD), the National Severe Storms Laboratory recently upgraded the KOUN Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) to include a polarimetric capability. The proof of concept was tested in central Oklahoma during a 1-yr demonstration project referred to as the Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE). This paper presents an overview of polarimetric algorithms for rainfall estimation and hydrometeor classification and their performance during JPOLE. The quality of rainfall measurements is validated on a large dataset from the Oklahoma Mesonet and Agricultural Research Service Micronet rain gauge networks. The comparison demonstrates that polarimetric rainfall estimates are often dramatically superior to those provided by conventional rainfall algorithms. Using a synthetic R(Z, KDP, ZDR) polarimetric rainfall relation, rms errors are reduced by a factor of 1.7 for point measurements and 3.7 for areal estimates [when ...

Rainfall Estimation with a Polarimetric Prototype of WSR-88D

As part of the Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE), the National Severe Storms Laboratory conducted an operational demonstration of the polarimetric utility of the Norman, Oklahoma (KOUN), Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D). The capability of the KOUN radar to estimate rainfall is tested on a large dataset representing different seasons and different types of rain. A dense gauge network—the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Micronet—is used to validate different polarimetric algorithms for rainfall estimation. One-hour rain totals are estimated from the KOUN radar using conventional and polarimetric algorithms and are compared with hourly accumulations measured by the gauges. Both point and areal rain estimates are examined. A new “synthetic” rainfall algorithm has been developed for rainfall estimation. The use of the synthetic polarimetric algorithm results in significant reduction in the rms errors of hourly rain estimates when compared with the conventional nonpolarimetric relation: 1.7 times for point measurements and 3.7 times for areal rainfall measurements.

Calibration Issues of Dual-Polarization Radar Measurements

Abstract Techniques for the absolute calibration of radar reflectivity Z and differential reflectivity ZDR measured with dual-polarization weather radars are examined herein. Calibration of Z is based on the idea of self-consistency among Z, ZDR, and the specific differential phase KDP in rain. Extensive spatial and temporal averaging is used to derive the average values of ZDR and KDP for each 1 dB step in Z. Such averaging substantially reduces the standard error of the KDP estimate so the technique can be used for a wide range of rain intensities, including light rain. In this paper, the performance of different consistency relations is analyzed and a new self-consistency methodology is suggested. The proposed scheme substantially reduces the impact of variability in the drop size distribution and raindrop shape on the quality of the Z calibration. The new calibration technique was tested on a large polarimetric dataset obtained during the Joint Polarization Experiment in Oklahoma and yielded an accura...

TELEX The Thunderstorm Electrification and Lightning Experiment

Measurements during TELEX by a lightning mapping array, polarimetric and mobile Doppler radars, and balloon-borne electric-field meters and radiosondes show how lightning and other electrical properties depend on storm structure, updrafts, and precipitation formation.

Polarimetric Tornado Detection

Polarimetric radars are shown to be capable of tornado detection through the recognition of tornadic debris signatures that are characterized by the anomalously low cross-correlation coefficient hv and differential reflectivity ZDR. This capability is demonstrated for three significant tornadic storms that struck the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, metropolitan area. The first tornadic debris signature, based on the measurements with the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s Cimarron polarimetric radar, was reported for a storm on 3 May 1999. Similar signatures were identified for two significant tornadic events during the Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE) in May 2003. The data from these storms were collected with a polarimetric prototype of the Next-Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD). In addition to a small-scale debris signature, larger-scale polarimetric signatures that might be relevant to tornadogenesis were persistently observed in tornadic supercells. The latter signatures are likely associated with lofted light debris (leaves, grass, dust, etc.) in the inflow region and intense size sorting of hydrometeors in the presence of strong wind shear and circulation.

Analysis of Video Disdrometer and Polarimetric Radar Data to Characterize Rain Microphysics in Oklahoma

Abstract In this paper, data from three 2-dimensional video disdrometers (2DVDs) and an S-band polarimetric radar are used to characterize rain microphysics in Oklahoma. Sampling errors from the 2DVD measurements are quantified through side-by-side comparisons. In an attempt to minimize the sampling errors, a method of sorting and averaging based on two parameters (SATP) is proposed. The shape–slope (μ–Λ) relation of a constrained gamma (C-G) model is then refined for the retrieval of drop size distributions (DSDs) from polarimetric radar measurements. An adjustable term that is based on observed radar reflectivity and differential reflectivity is introduced to make the C-G DSD model more applicable. Radar retrievals using this improved DSD model are shown to provide good agreement with disdrometer observations and to give reasonable results, including in locations near the leading edge of convection where poorly sampled large drops are often observed.

Electrical and Polarimetric Radar Observations of a Multicell Storm in TELEX

Abstract On 28–29 June 2004 a multicellular thunderstorm west of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was probed as part of the Thunderstorm Electrification and Lightning Experiment field program. This study makes use of radar observations from the Norman, Oklahoma, polarimetric Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler, three-dimensional lightning mapping data from the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array (LMA), and balloon-borne vector electric field meter (EFM) measurements. The storm had a low flash rate (30 flashes in 40 min). Four charge regions were inferred from a combination of LMA and EFM data. Lower positive charge near 4 km and midlevel negative charge from 4.5 to 6 km MSL (from 0° to −6.5°C) were generated in and adjacent to a vigorous updraft pulse. Further midlevel negative charge from 4.5 to 6 km MSL and upper positive charge from 6 to 8 km (from −6.5° to −19°C) were generated later in quantity sufficient to initiate lightning as the updraft decayed. A negative screening layer was present near the storm top...

Drop Size Distributions Measured by a 2D Video Disdrometer: Comparison with Dual-Polarization Radar Data

Abstract An analysis of drop size distributions (DSDs) measured in four very different precipitation regimes is presented and is compared with polarimetric radar measurements. The DSDs are measured by a 2D video disdrometer, which is designed to measure drop size, shape, and fall speed with unprecedented accuracy. The observations indicate that significant DSD variability exists not only from one event to the next, but also within each system. Also, despite having vastly different storm structures and maximum rain rates, large raindrops with diameters greater than 5 mm occurred with each system. By comparing the occurrence of large drops with rainfall intensity, the authors find that the largest median diameters are not always associated with the heaviest rainfall, but are sometimes located either in advance of convective cores or, occasionally, in stratiform regions where rainfall rates are relatively low. Disdrometer and polarimetric radar measurements of radar reflectivity Z, differential reflectivity ...

Relationships between Lightning Location and Polarimetric Radar Signatures in a Small Mesoscale Convective System

Abstract On 19 June 2004, the Thunderstorm Electrification and Lightning Experiment observed electrical, microphysical, and kinematic properties of a small mesoscale convective system (MCS). The primary observing systems were the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array, the KOUN S-band polarimetric radar, two mobile C-band Doppler radars, and balloonborne electric field meters. During its mature phase, this MCS had a normal tripolar charge structure (lightning involved a midlevel negative charge between an upper and a lower positive charge), and flash rates fluctuated between 80 and 100 flashes per minute. Most lightning was initiated within one of two altitude ranges (3–6 or 7–10 km MSL) and within the 35-dBZ contours of convective cells embedded within the convective line. The properties of two such cells were investigated in detail, with the first lasting approximately 40 min and producing only 12 flashes and the second lasting over an hour and producing 105 flashes. In both, lightning was initiated in or nea...

Formation of Charge Structures in a Supercell

Abstract Lightning mapping, electric field, and radar data from the 26 May 2004 supercell in central Oklahoma are used to examine the storm’s charge structure. An initial arc-shaped maximum in lightning activity on the right flank of the storm’s bounded weak echo region was composed of an elevated normal polarity tripole in the region of precipitation lofted above the storm’s weak echo region. Later in the storm, two charge structures were associated with precipitation that reached the ground. To the left of the weak echo region, six charge regions were inferred, with positive charge carried on hail at the bottom of the stack. Farther forward in the storm’s precipitation region, four charge regions were inferred, with negative charge at the bottom of the stack. There were different charge structures in adjacent regions of the storm at the same time, and regions of opposite polarity charge were horizontally adjacent at the same altitude. Flashes occasionally lowered positive charge to ground from the forwa...