VVP Technique Applied to an Alberta Storm

Abstract

The volume velocity processing (VVP) technique is used with a simulated wind field to determine the accuracy of kinematic quantities for different numbers of wind parameters and different sizes of analysis volumes. Accurate estimates of divergence, deformation, and vertical shear are obtained if the VVP method contains seven wind parameters and the analysis volumes have a range of about 20 km and an azimuthal extent of about 40°. The seven-parameter VVP method is applied to a convective storm in central Alberta, Canada. The analysis showed that low-level convergence and moderate vertical shear preceded the enhancement of precipitation, while low-level divergence suppressed the convection.