Operational Use of Specific Differential Phase Shift in Dual Polarization Radars

Specific differential phase shift is one of three new base products that have become available to operational weather forecasters since the WSR-88D upgrades were completed in May 2013. Though most often used as a component in quantitative precipitation estimates, this research focused on determining if KDP is strong enough of a stand-alone product for meteorologists to use in weather warning decision-making. Radar and observation data from 17 convective storms and 8 locations during two land-falling tropical storms were studied. It was shown for convective storms that the single greatest KDP pixel value for each radar scan during the studied storms had a stronger relationship to observed rainfall rate than the highest base reflectivity pixel. It was also shown that current methods of precipitation estimate routinely overestimate rainfall amounts, while a new method that utilizes a Z-R relationship that uses only the base reflectivity values associated with the maximum KDP value provides a rainfall amount closer to in situ observations. These results lead to the conclusion that, using the methods utilized in this research, KDP is indeed strong enough to be used as a stand-alone product for forecasters.

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Wright, Kyle

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wagner, Timothy J.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/65293

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/65293