A Preliminary Study of Precursors to Huntsville Microbursts
Abstract
Automated algorithms are being developed for the detection of wind shears such as microbursts and gust fronts. Previous studies have shown that these outflows can be hazardous to an airplane during takeoffs and landings. The ultimate goal of a microburst detection algorithm is the timely warning of potentially hazardous wind shears through the detection of reliable precursors. Research in Colorado and Oklahoma documented the significance of precursors such as descending reflectivity cores, convergence, rotation, and reflectivity notching as indicators that a microburst will occur in the very near future. The overall importance of an individual feature varies between regions. This investigation will focus on those precursors which play a dominant role in the formation of wet microbursts in the southeastern United States. The data analyzed in this report was gathered by the FAA TDWR S-band Doppler radar during 1985 and 1986 in Memphis, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama. Keywords: Range height indicators; Plan position indicators; Terminal doppler weather radar; Microbursts; Gust front; Reflectivity notching; Microburst precursor; False alarms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA200914
Entities
People
- Mark A. Isaminger
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology