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High resolution dual-polarization radar observation of tornados: Implications for radar development and tornado detection

  • Francesc Junyent
  • , S. Frasier
  • , D. J. McLaughlin
  • , V. Chandrasekar
  • , H. Bluestein
  • , M. French
  • University of Massachusetts
  • Colorado State University
  • University of Oklahoma

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The recently established Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the atmosphere, integrated by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Colorado State University, University of Oklahoma and University of Puerto-Rico at Mayagüez, will be deploying a test-bed consisting of a network of low-power, short-range, X-Band, polarimetric, Doppler radars in central Oklahoma. One of the principal goals of this network of radars, known as NetRad, is to improve the detection of tornadoes and locate accurately their centroid position. This paper presents data from the University of Massachusetts XPol radar, an X-Band, mobile unit with very similar characteristics to those of a NetRad unit, obtained from two tornadoes probed at close range on 12 May 2004 in Kansas, and a third tornado probed at further range on 29 May 2004. Reflectivity, differential reflectivity, Doppler velocity, Doppler spectrum width, differential phase and cross correlation coefficient magnitude are obtained, with the polarimetric fields showing evidence of a distinct tornado signature, dependent on the tornado strength, associated with the post-touchdown debris field. The high temporal and spatial resolution data from the tornadoes are used to simulate the radar echo characteristics at various ranges, to explore the characteristic features that will be used to detect and locate a tornado or track it. Special emphasis is placed on dual-polarization radar signature characteristics

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication25th Anniversary IGARSS 2005
Subtitle of host publicationIEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium
Pages2034-2037
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Event2005 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2005 - Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Duration: Jul 25 2005Jul 29 2005

Publication series

NameInternational Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
Volume3

Conference

Conference2005 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2005
Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
CitySeoul
Period07/25/0507/29/05

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