An Investigation of Radar Returns and Their Relationship to Severe Weather Occurrences.
Abstract
One of the primary responsibilities of the operational meteorologist is to issue warning for possible occurrences of severe weather. These warnings allow the meteorological customer and the public time to take precautionary measures, either in terms of a reduction of property loss or savings in human suffering. To do this job effectively, the meteorologist relies heavily on weather radar to detect, identify, and track convective storms. Conventional radar does not detect or identify severe weather associated with convective activity, but rather its presence is inferred based on the meteorologist's interpretation of radar backscatter information. Doppler radar has been shown to be a better tool than conventional radar for severe storm identification, but Doppler radar is not operationally deployed for thunderstorm surveillance. Until Doppler radar becomes operationally available to the practicing meteorologist, conventional radar must be used to identify those storms capable of producing severe weather at the surface.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA058401
Entities
People
- Werner Helmut Balsterholt
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology