Development of precipitation in convective tropical rainbands based on dual-Doppler radar and aircraft data analyses

Marcin J. Szumowski, Robert M. Rauber, Harry T. Ochs, Kenneth V. Beard, L. Jay Miller

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

In the summer of 1990 the Hawaiian Rainband Project (HaRP) employed a dual-Doppler radar system and the NCAR Electra aircraft to study the formation and development of precipitation in off-shore rainbands. These short-lived, shallow convective systems produce over 800 cm of precipitation annually on the sloping east shore of the island. Radar measurements have indicated surprisingly high reflectivity echoes near the updraft cores of cells present within these bands. peak reflectivities as high as 55-60 dBZ have been observed in very shallow (2-3 km) bands, and since the clouds contained no ice, these high values must be attributed to the rpeence of large raindrops. These reflectivities are equivalent to those observed in strong convective hailstorms over the central United States. Physically coherent descriptions of the evolution of precipitation in the rainband cells are being derived from reflectivity and kinematic data obtained from dual-Doppler radar measurements, and microphysical and air motion data measured by the research aircraft. We will examine the microphsical structure of a rainband cell with particularly high reflectivity and briefly compare this case with others observed both during HaRP and during a previous project conducted in 1985 at the same location.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages273-275
Number of pages3
StatePublished - 1993
Event26th International Conference on Radar Meteorology - Norman, OK, USA
Duration: May 24 1993May 28 1993

Other

Other26th International Conference on Radar Meteorology
CityNorman, OK, USA
Period5/24/935/28/93

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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