Graduate Research Training on a Dual-Polarization Meteorological Radar Project.
Abstract
This research involved studies of dual-polarization meteorological radar observations of thunderstorms, particularly observations of electrically aligned particles in active storms. Radar data indicate the presence of large supercooled drops above freezing level in a small, developing New Mexico storm in the summer of 1993. This data is of particular interest to meteorologists investigating how precipitation initially forms in the relatively cold, dry storms of the desert southwest. Other research findings include analysis of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology's Lightning Interferometer observations of intracloud lightning with storm structure. Intracloud discharges in small New Mexico storms were observed to transfer negative charge upward from the storm precipitation core to the upper part of the thunderstorm. This was consistent with dual-polarization observations of ice crystals that were vertically aligned by the storm's electric field in the upper part of the cloud prior to the discharges. Such electric field alignment observations may be used to remotely determine the electric field and charge structure within a thunderstorm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 07, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA336687
Entities
People
- Paul Krehbiel
Organizations
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology