Single-Doppler Velocity Retrieval with Rapid-Scan Radar Data

Abstract

An approximate (rapid scan) dynamical model for single-Doppler retrieval of the vector wind field is investigated. This approximate model is based on the Lagrangian form of the radial component of the equation of motion and is valid for retrieval time windows that are smaller than the effective timescale of the flow but larger than the product of the effective timescale and (nondimensional) relative error in the radial wind observations. The retrieval was tested with data gathered by two Doppler-on-Wheels mobile Doppler research radars of a cold front on 16 June 2000 near Grandfield, Oklahoma. Experiments focused on the impact of time resolution and the utility of a background constraint obtained from a volume velocity processing (VVP)-like estimate of the wind field. Retrieval error statistics were substantially improved as the volume scan intervals decreased from 5 min [characterizing the current Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) scan rates] down to 1 min. Use of the background constraint also improved the results, with superior results obtained in the high temporal resolution experiments when the background constraint was selectively imposed.