scholarly journals Doppler W-band polarization diversity spaceborne radar simulator for wind studies

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Ranvir Dhillon ◽  
Anthony Illingworth
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Uniform Beam ◽  
W Band ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. CloudSat observations are used in combination with collocated ECMWF wind reanalysis to simulate spaceborne W-band Doppler observations from slant-looking radars. The simulator also includes cross-polarization effects which are relevant if the Doppler velocities are derived from polarization diversity pulse pair correlation. A specific conically scanning radar configuration (WIVERN), recently proposed to the ESA-Earth Explorer 10 call that aims to provide global in-cloud winds for data assimilation, is analysed in detail in this study. One hundred granules of CloudSat data are exploited to investigate the impact on Doppler velocity estimates from three specific effects: (1) non-uniform beam filling, (2) wind shear, and (3) cross talk between orthogonal polarization channels induced by hydrometeors and surface targets. Errors associated with non-uniform beam filling constitute the most important source of error and can account for almost 1 m s−1 standard deviation, but this can be reduced effectively to less than 0.5 m s−1 by adopting corrections based on estimates of vertical reflectivity gradients. Wind-shear-induced errors are generally much smaller (~ 0.2 m s−1). A methodology for correcting such errors has been developed based on estimates of the vertical wind shear and the reflectivity gradient. Low signal-to-noise ratios lead to higher random errors (especially in winds) and therefore the correction (particularly the one related to the wind-shear induced error) is less effective at low signal-to-noise ratio. Both errors can be underestimated in our model because the CloudSat data do not fully sample the spatial variability of the reflectivity fields whereas the ECMWF reanalysis may have smoother velocity fields than in reality (e.g. they underestimate vertical wind shear). The simulator allows quantification of the average number of accurate measurements that could be gathered by the Doppler radar for each polar orbit, which is strongly impacted by the selection of the polarization diversity H – V pulse separation, Thv. For WIVERN a selection close to 20 μs (with a corresponding folding velocity equal to 40 m s−1) seems to achieve the right balance between maximizing the number of accurate wind measurements (exceeding 10 % of the time at any particular level in the mid-troposphere), and minimizing aliasing effects in the presence of high winds. The study lays the foundation for future studies towards a thorough assessment of the performance of polar orbiting wide-swath W-band Doppler radars on a global scale. The next generation of scanning cloud radar systems and reanalyses with improved resolution will enable full capture of the spatial variability of the cloud reflectivity and the in-cloud wind fields, thus refining the results of this study.

scholarly journals Doppler W-band polarization diversity space-borne radar simulator for wind studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 5965-5979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Ranvir Dhillon ◽  
Anthony Illingworth
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Uniform Beam ◽  
W Band ◽  
Ecmwf Reanalysis

Abstract. CloudSat observations are used in combination with collocated European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis to simulate space-borne W-band Doppler observations from slant-looking radars. The simulator also includes cross-polarization effects which are relevant if the Doppler velocities are derived from polarization diversity pulse pair correlation. A specific conically scanning radar configuration (WIVERN), recently proposed to the ESA-Earth Explorer 10 call that aims to provide global in-cloud winds for data assimilation, is analysed in detail in this study. One hundred granules of CloudSat data are exploited to investigate the impact on Doppler velocity estimates from three specific effects: (1) non-uniform beam filling, (2) wind shear and (3) crosstalk between orthogonal polarization channels induced by hydrometeors and surface targets. Errors associated with non-uniform beam filling constitute the most important source of error and can account for almost 1 m s−1 standard deviation, but this can be reduced effectively to less than 0.5 m s−1 by adopting corrections based on estimates of vertical reflectivity gradients. Wind-shear-induced errors are generally much smaller (∼0.2 m s−1). A methodology for correcting these errors has been developed based on estimates of the vertical wind shear and the reflectivity gradient. Low signal-to-noise ratios lead to higher random errors (especially in winds) and therefore the correction (particularly the one related to the wind-shear-induced error) is less effective at low signal-to-noise ratio. Both errors can be underestimated in our model because the CloudSat data do not fully sample the spatial variability of the reflectivity fields, whereas the ECMWF reanalysis may have smoother velocity fields than in reality (e.g. they underestimate vertical wind shear). The simulator allows for quantification of the average number of accurate measurements that could be gathered by the Doppler radar for each polar orbit, which is strongly impacted by the selection of the polarization diversity H−V pulse separation, Thv. For WIVERN a selection close to 20 µs (with a corresponding folding velocity equal to 40 m s−1) seems to achieve the right balance between maximizing the number of accurate wind measurements (exceeding 10 % of the time at any particular level in the mid-troposphere) and minimizing aliasing effects in the presence of high winds. The study lays the foundation for future studies towards a thorough assessment of the performance of polar orbiting wide-swath W-band Doppler radars on a global scale. The next generation of scanning cloud radar systems and reanalyses with improved resolution will enable a full capture of the spatial variability of the cloud reflectivity and the in-cloud wind fields, thus refining the results of this study.

A Balanced Tropical Cyclone Test Case for AGCMs with Background Vertical Wind Shear

2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (5) ◽  
pp. 1762-1781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei He ◽  
Derek J. Posselt ◽  
Colin M. Zarzycki ◽  
Christiane Jablonowski
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Background Field ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Intensity Change ◽  
Test Case ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This paper presents a balanced tropical cyclone (TC) test case designed to improve current understanding of how atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) configurations affect simulated TC development and behavior. It consists of an analytic initial condition comprising two independently balanced components. The first provides a vortical TC seed, while the second adds a planetary-scale zonal flow with height-dependent velocity and imposes background vertical wind shear (VWS) on the TC seed. The environmental flow satisfies the steady-state hydrostatic primitive equations in spherical coordinates and is in balance with other background field variables (e.g., temperature, surface geopotential). The evolution of idealized TCs in the test case framework is illustrated in 10-day simulations performed with the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5.1.1 (CAM 5.1.1). Environmental wind profiles with different magnitudes, directions, and vertical inflection points are applied to ensure that the technique is robust to changes in the VWS characteristics. The well-known shear-induced intensity change and structural asymmetry in tropical cyclones are well captured. Sensitivity of TC evolution to small perturbations in the initial vortex is also quantitatively addressed to validate the numerical robustness of the technique. It is concluded that the enhanced TC test case can be used to evaluate the impact of model choice (e.g., resolution, physical parameterizations) on the simulation and representation of TC-like vortices in AGCMs.

scholarly journals Further examination of the thermodynamic modification of the inflow layer of tropical cyclones by vertical wind shear

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Riemer ◽  
M. T. Montgomery ◽  
M. E. Nicholls
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Numerical Experiments ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Experimental Setup ◽  
Power Machine ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Recent work has developed a new framework for the impact of vertical wind shear on the intensity evolution of tropical cyclones. A focus of this framework is on the frustration of the tropical cyclone's power machine by shear-induced, persistent downdrafts that flush relatively cool and dry (lower equivalent potential temperature, θe) air into the storm's inflow layer. These previous results have been based on idealised numerical experiments for which we have deliberately chosen a simple set of physical parameterisations. Before efforts are undertaken to test the proposed framework with real atmospheric data, we assess here the robustness of our previous results in a more realistic and representative experimental setup by surveying and diagnosing five additional numerical experiments. The modifications of the experimental setup comprise the values of the exchange coefficients of surface heat and momentum fluxes, the inclusion of experiments with ice microphysics, and the consideration of weaker, but still mature tropical cyclones. In all experiments, the depression of the inflow layer θe values is significant and all tropical cyclones exhibit the same general structural changes when interacting with the imposed vertical wind shear. Tropical cyclones in which strong downdrafts occur more frequently exhibit a more pronounced depression of inflow layer θe outside of the eyewall in our experiments. The magnitude of the θe depression underneath the eyewall early after shear is imposed in our experiments correlates well with the magnitude of the ensuing weakening of the respective tropical cyclone. Based on the evidence presented, it is concluded that the newly proposed framework is a robust description of intensity modification in our suite of experiments.

scholarly journals Idealized Tropical Cyclone Responses to the Height and Depth of Environmental Vertical Wind Shear

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 2155-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Finocchio ◽  
Sharanya J. Majumdar ◽  
David S. Nolan ◽  
Mohamed Iskandarani
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Deep Layer ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Polynomial Expansions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tilt Response ◽  
Left Quadrant

Abstract Three sets of idealized, cloud-resolving simulations are performed to investigate the sensitivity of tropical cyclone (TC) structure and intensity to the height and depth of environmental vertical wind shear. In the first two sets of simulations, shear height and depth are varied independently; in the third set, orthogonal polynomial expansions are used to facilitate a joint sensitivity analysis. Despite all simulations having the same westerly deep-layer (200–850 hPa) shear of 10 m s−1, different intensity and structural evolutions are observed, suggesting the deep-layer shear alone may not be sufficient for understanding or predicting the impact of vertical wind shear on TCs. In general, vertical wind shear that is shallower and lower in the troposphere is more destructive to model TCs because it tilts the TC vortex farther into the downshear-left quadrant. The vortices that tilt the most are unable to precess upshear and realign, resulting in their failure to intensify. Shear height appears to modulate this tilt response by modifying the thermodynamic environment above the developing vortex early in the simulations, while shear depth modulates the tilt response by controlling the vertical extent of the convective vortex. It is also found that TC intensity predictability is reduced in a narrow range of shear heights and depths. This result underscores the importance of accurately observing the large-scale environmental flow for improving TC intensity forecasts, and for anticipating when such forecasts are likely to have large errors.

scholarly journals Environmental Flow Impacts on Tropical Cyclone Structure Diagnosed from Airborne Doppler Radar Composites

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (9) ◽  
pp. 2949-2969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Reasor ◽  
Robert Rogers ◽  
Sylvie Lorsolo
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Asymmetric Structure ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Airborne Doppler Radar

Abstract Following a recent demonstration of multicase compositing of axisymmetric tropical cyclone (TC) structure derived from airborne Doppler radar measurements, the authors extend the analysis to the asymmetric structure using an unprecedented database from 75 TC flights. In particular, they examine the precipitation and kinematic asymmetry forced by the TC's motion and interaction with vertical wind shear. For the first time they quantify the average magnitude and phase of the three-dimensional shear-relative kinematic asymmetry of observed TCs through a composite approach. The composite analysis confirms principal features of the shear-relative TC asymmetry documented in prior numerical and observational studies (e.g., downshear tilt, downshear-right convective initiation, and a downshear-left precipitation maximum). The statistical significance of the composite shear-relative structure is demonstrated through a stratification of cases by shear magnitude. The impact of storm motion on eyewall convective asymmetry appears to be secondary to the much greater constraint placed by vertical wind shear on the organization of convection, in agreement with prior studies using lightning and precipitation data.

scholarly journals Error Analysis of a Conceptual Cloud Doppler Stereoradar with Polarization Diversity for Better Understanding Space Applications

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1298-1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Pavlos Kollias
Keyword(s):  
Total Error ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Dynamic Features ◽  
Space Applications ◽  
Error Budget ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Along Track ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAn error budget analysis is performed for retrieval of along-track winds based on the design of a spaceborne Doppler radar using polarization diversity. The analysis is conducted within the framework of a case study of an Atlantic hurricane. The proposed concept consists of either a Ka-band or W-band stereoradar mounted on an LEO satellite equipped with both nadir- and forward-viewing beams and with an optional cross-scanning capability. Such a radar design is intended for observing the microphysical and dynamical structures of cloud systems, including disturbed mesoscale convective systems. Because of the high winds involved in such weather phenomena and because of the Doppler fading introduced by platform motion, polarization diversity is adopted. The simulation framework enables a breakdown of the Doppler velocity measurement error budget into its most important components, that is, nonuniform beamfilling, multiple scattering, and inherent signal noise. The impact of each of these error terms on the total error depends on the adopted integration length, the number of scanned tracks, and the specifics of the radar. This allows for optimally selecting an integration length suitable for minimizing the total rms velocity error. The analysis shows that the use of a large antenna could achieve impressive measurement accuracy of the along-line-of-sight wind velocities. Notably, this would be the case for integration lengths longer than 3 km, even when carrying out cross-track scanning for up to 17 separate tracks. Examples of retrieved along-track wind fields also reveal that the large antenna configurations are capable of identifying and quantifying the foremost dynamic features (e.g., vertical wind shear and convergence/divergence regions).

scholarly journals Secondary Circulation of Tropical Cyclones in Vertical Wind Shear: Lagrangian Diagnostic and Pathways of Environmental Interaction

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 3517-3536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Riemer ◽  
Frédéric Laliberté
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Secondary Circulation ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Intensity Change ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Environmental Interaction ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This study introduces a Lagrangian diagnostic of the secondary circulation of tropical cyclones (TCs), here defined by those trajectories that contribute to latent heat release in the region of high inertial stability of the TC core. This definition accounts for prominent asymmetries and transient flow features. Trajectories are mapped from the three-dimensional physical space to the (two dimensional) entropy–temperature space. The mass flux vector in this space subsumes the thermodynamic characteristics of the secondary circulation. The Lagrangian diagnostic is then employed to further analyze the impact of vertical wind shear on TCs in previously published idealized numerical experiments. One focus of this analysis is the classification and quantitative depiction of different pathways of environmental interaction based on thermodynamic properties of trajectories at initial and end times. Confirming results from previous work, vertical shear significantly increases the intrusion of low–equivalent potential temperature () air into the eyewall through the frictional inflow layer. In contrast to previous ideas, vertical shear decreases midlevel ventilation in these experiments. Consequently, the difference in eyewall between the no-shear and shear experiments is largest at low levels. Vertical shear, however, significantly increases detrainment from the eyewall and modifies the thermodynamic signature of the outflow layer. Finally, vertical shear promotes the occurrence of a novel class of trajectories that has not been described previously. These trajectories lose entropy at cold temperatures by detraining from the outflow layer and subsequently warm by 10–15 K. Further work is needed to investigate in more detail the relative importance of the different pathways for TC intensity change and to extend this study to real atmospheric TCs.

scholarly journals Predicting the Climatology of Tornado Occurrences in North America with a Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling Framework*

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1899-1917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Y. S. Cheng ◽  
George B. Arhonditsis ◽  
David M. L. Sills ◽  
William A. Gough ◽  
Heather Auld
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Hierarchical Modeling ◽  
Convective Available Potential Energy ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical

Abstract Destruction and fatalities from recent tornado outbreaks in North America have raised considerable concerns regarding their climatic and geographic variability. However, regional characterization of tornado activity in relation to large-scale climatic processes remains highly uncertain. Here, a novel Bayesian hierarchical framework is developed for elucidating the spatiotemporal variability of the factors underlying tornado occurrence in North America. It is demonstrated that regional variability of tornado activity can be characterized using a hierarchical parameterization of convective available potential energy, storm relative helicity, and vertical wind shear quantities. It is shown that the spatial variability of tornado occurrence during the warm summer season can be explained by convective available potential energy and storm relative helicity alone, while vertical wind shear is clearly better at capturing the spatial variability of the cool season tornado activity. The results suggest that the Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach is effective for understanding the regional tornadic environment and in forming the basis for establishing tornado prognostic tools in North America.

scholarly journals The Impact of Size Sorting on the Polarimetric Radar Variables

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 2042-2060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Kumjian ◽  
Alexander V. Ryzhkov
Keyword(s):  
Wind Shear ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Polarimetric Radar ◽  
Horizontal Polarization ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
Size Sorting ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Differential sedimentation of precipitation occurs because heavier hydrometeors fall faster than lighter ones. Updrafts and vertical wind shear can maintain this otherwise transient size sorting, resulting in prolonged regions of ongoing particle sorting in storms. This study quantifies the impact of size sorting on the S-band polarimetric radar variables (radar reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization ZH, differential reflectivity ZDR, specific differential phase KDP, and the copolar cross-correlation coefficient ρhv). These variables are calculated from output of two idealized bin models: a one-dimensional model of pure raindrop fallout and a two-dimensional rain shaft encountering vertical wind shear. Additionally, errors in the radar variables as simulated by single-, double-, and triple-moment bulk microphysics parameterizations are quantified for the same size sorting scenarios. Size sorting produces regions of sparsely concentrated large drops with a lack of smaller drops, causing ZDR enhancements as large as 1 dB in areas of decreased ZH, often along a ZH gradient. Such areas of enhanced ZDR are offset from those of high ZH and KDP. Illustrative examples of polarimetric radar observations in a variety of precipitation regimes demonstrate the widespread occurrence of size sorting and are consistent with the bin model simulations. Single-moment schemes are incapable of size sorting, leading to large underestimations in ZDR (>2 dB) compared to the bin model solution. Double-moment schemes with a fixed spectral shape parameter produce excessive size sorting by incorrectly increasing the number of large raindrops, overestimating ZDR by 2–3 dB. Three-moment schemes with variable shape parameters better capture the narrowing drop size distribution resulting from size sorting but can underestimate ZDR and overestimate KDP by as much as 20%. Implications for polarimetric radar data assimilation into storm-scale numerical weather prediction models are discussed.

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