Radar Reflectivity–Based Estimates of Mixed Layer Depth

Heinselman, Pam L.; Stensrud, David J.; Hluchan, R. M.; Spencer, Phillip L.; Burke, Patrick C.; Elmore, Kimberly L.

doi:10.1175/2008jtecha1091.1

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Heinselman et al (2009) and Elmore et al (2012) show that if the reflectivity field obtained with the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in ''clear air'' exhibits an elevated maximum, its height correlates well with the top of the CBL. Heinselman et al (2009) and Elmore et al (2012) show that if the reflectivity field obtained with the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in ''clear air'' exhibits an elevated maximum, its height correlates well with the top of the CBL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structures of Bragg Scatter Observed with the Polarimetric WSR-88D

Melnikov

Doviak

Zrnić

et al. 2013

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

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Enhancements to signal processing and data collection in the dual-polarization Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) to increase its detection capability yield observations of ''fine'' structures from Bragg scatterers. Several types of the fine structures observed in and above the boundary layer are discussed. These Bragg scatter structures include the top of the convective boundary layer, nonprecipitating clouds, strong convective plumes above the boundary layer, and a layer of weak reflections associated with decaying boundary layer turbulence. A conclusion that data from polarimetric WSR-88Ds can be used to obtain the depth of the convective boundary layer is made.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structures of Bragg Scatter Observed with the Polarimetric WSR-88D

Melnikov

Doviak

Zrnić

et al. 2013

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

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“…At the height of 5–6 km, the radar reflectivity decreases to 24 dBZ for the ice water mixed layer. Previous research has been conducted that the depth of mixed layer was concerned with the water vapor mixing ratio and the temperature, which could cause a sharp decrease in the radar reflectivity (Heinselman et al, ; Heymsfield et al, ). Meanwhile, above 6 km of the ice layer, the increasing of ice particle content leads to the water vapor content quickly depresses to 20 dBZ.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical Properties and Spatial Variation of Tropical Cyclone Cloud Systems From TRMM and MODIS in the East Asia Region: 2010–2014

Zhou

Han

et al. 2018

JGR Atmospheres

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The tropical cyclone (TC) in East Asia varies strongly each year, indicating the different spectral characteristics of the TC cloud systems (TCCSs) with the distance from the center of TC. We report a new perspective of optical properties of TCCS by using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission data over the years from 2010 to 2014 for the 35 TCs in East Asia. We investigate the spatial distribution of the cloud‐top height, radar reflectivity, polarization corrected temperature in 85.5 GHz (PCT85.5), hydrometeor vertical profile, cloud water path, cloud optical thickness, and cloud particle effective radius of TCCS in the development, maturity, and decay stages of TC. The results indicate the significant differences of cloud characteristics in the maturity stage in comparison to other two stages, showing the higher radar reflectivity up to 30 dBZ and the PCT85.5 as low as 232.98 K in the TC eye wall. Meanwhile, the mean hydrometeor profile indicates more ice particles accumulating above the height of 10 km but less liquid droplets near 3 km. The peak of cloud water path and cloud optical thickness in the maturity stage can reach to 1,300 g/m2 and 75, respectively. The mean cloud particle effective radius and precipitation in the three stages could be influenced by aerosols. Based on these quantified results, several ideal fitting equations and the models are constructed to denote the properties of TCCS. Two cases are analyzed to examine the accuracy of the quantified mean state for different stages of TCCS and the relationship between aerosols and clouds.

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“…In a review article, Chadwick and Gossard (1986) noted that 10-cm and longer wavelength radars have the capability of identifying the mixed-layer top in a turbulent boundary layer. Heinselman et al (2009) exploited this idea to identify the elevation of the mixed-layer top in Oklahoma.…”

Section: Scattering Mechanism Associated With Layered Radar Echoesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Revised Conceptual Model of the Tropical Marine Boundary Layer. Part II: Detecting Relative Humidity Layers Using Bragg Scattering from S-Band Radar

Davison

Rauber

Girolamo

2013

Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

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Persistent layers of enhanced equivalent radar reflectivity factor and reduced spectral width were commonly observed within cloud-free regions of the tropical marine boundary layer (TMBL) with the National Center for Atmospheric Research S-Pol radar during the Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) field campaign. Bragg scattering is shown to be the primary source of these layers. Two mechanisms are proposed to explain the Bragg scattering layers (BSLs), the first involving turbulent mixing and the second involving detrainment and evaporation of cloudy air. These mechanisms imply that BSLs should exist in layers with tops (bases) defined by local relative humidity (RH) minima (maxima). The relationship between BSLs and RH is explored.An equation for the vertical gradient of radio refractivity N is derived, and a scale analysis is used to demonstrate the close relationship between vertical RH and N gradients. This is tested using the derived radar BSL boundary altitudes, 131 surface-based soundings, and 34 sets of about six near-coincident, aircraftreleased dropsondes. First, dropsonde data are used to quantify the finescale variability of the RH field. Then, within limits imposed by this variability, altitudes of tops (bases) of radar BSLs are shown to agree with altitudes of RH minima (maxima). These findings imply that S-band radars can be used to track the vertical profile of RH variations as a function of time and height, that the vertical RH profile of the TMBL is highly variable over horizontal scales as small as 60 km, and that BSLs are a persistent, coherent feature that delineate aspects of TMBL mesoscale structure.

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Radar Reflectivity–Based Estimates of Mixed Layer Depth

Cited by 18 publications

References 30 publications

Structures of Bragg Scatter Observed with the Polarimetric WSR-88D

Structures of Bragg Scatter Observed with the Polarimetric WSR-88D

Optical Properties and Spatial Variation of Tropical Cyclone Cloud Systems From TRMM and MODIS in the East Asia Region: 2010–2014

A Revised Conceptual Model of the Tropical Marine Boundary Layer. Part II: Detecting Relative Humidity Layers Using Bragg Scattering from S-Band Radar

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