A method for using weather radar data to test cloud resolving models

PT May; TP Lane

Journal article

A method for using weather radar data to test cloud resolving models

PT May, TP Lane

Meteorological Applications | JOHN WILEY & SONS INC | Published : 2009

DOI: 10.1002/met.150

Abstract

A simple method for extracting useful metrics to characterize cloud fields from volumetric radar data is described along with the use of these metrics to evaluate the performance of cloud resolving models. This method involves the calculation of a 'Statistical Coverage Product', where the fraction of a grid of radar data covered by various reflectivity thresholds and microphysical classifications is calculated, along with profiles of maximum reflectivity, areas of convective and stratiform rain, and the amounts of rainfall in these categories. The application of this method is illustrated, whereby radar observation and a cloud resolving model simulation are compared for a tropical island thu..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Todd Lane Author

Related Projects (1)

Tropical convection and its contribution to climate variability

This research will provide the necessary data to test and improve the representation of tropical convective clouds in weather forecast and c..

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This work has been partially supported by the United States DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program and by the Australian Research Council Discovery Projects funding scheme (DP0770381). We would like to gratefully acknowledge many fruitful discussions with Beth Ebert and Christian Jakob and the assistance of reviewers.