Identification of Damaging Surface Winds in Tropical Thunderstorms Utilizing Incoherent Weather Radar and Meteorological Observations

摘要

Radar precipitation echoes and sferics data were examined for eighty-four cases of high winds, small tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds in the South Florida area to determine what radar signatures, if any, can be used to identify these storms. Two radars were used to obtain three-dimensional, intensity-contoured data on time-lapse film during the summer thunderstorm season, May through October, 1968 and 1969. This permitted many types of correlations. It was found that echoes during the afternoon hours with tops above 30-35,000 ft., reflectivity values of 1,000 to 10,000 mm to the 6th power/cubic meter, and lifespans greater than one hour are most likely to produce damaging surface winds in the South Florida area. (Author)