Nomogram for Aiding the Interpretation of Tornadic Vortex Signatures Measured by Doppler Radar

Abstract

A technique is described whereby an investigator can obtain a more representative peak velocity for a tornadic vortex signature (TVS) than can be obtained by using the extreme measured Doppler velocities associated with the signature. This technique, which is based on theoretical curves derived by scanning a simulated radar through Rankine combined vortices, is applied to WSR-88D Doppler velocity data collected in the Garden City, Kansas, tornado of 16 May 1995. The technique produces peak TVS velocities that are more consistent in time and height than those computed directly from the extreme measured values.