Moisture Analysis of a Type I Cloud-Topped Boundry Layer from Doppler Radar and Rawinsonde Observations
Abstract
Moisture data from radar and rawinsonde observations during three lake effect snow events are analyzed to determine entrainment rates. Gathered during the winter of 1990, the data is a subset from the Lake Ontario Winter Storms (LOWS) Project, which deployed a mesoscale network of sensors. Doppler wind profiler signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data is used to derive humidity structure function parameter (C(sub q)(exp 2)) time-height series analysis, which is then compared to rawinsonde specific humidity (q) plots. Visual comparison of log(C(sub q)(exp 2)) and q analysis indicated a strongly positive correlation. Radar-derived humidity analysis is used to estimate the depth of the Type I, cloud-topped boundary layer (CTBL), which corresponded well with results from LOWS rawinsonde data. Calculations of the contribution of (C(sub q)(exp 2)) to the refractive index structure parameter (C(sub n)(exp 2)) showed the humidity correction factor (alpha(sub r)(exp 2)) to range from 1.03 to 1.04 within the CTBL, consistent with previous findings for Type II CTBLs. A comparison of entrainment rates, computed via two different methods, were in agreement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 20, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA360084
Entities
People
- John P. Dreher
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology