Fine Structure of Vertical Motion in the Stratiform Precipitation Region Observed by a VHF Doppler Radar Installed in Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Vertical motion W profiles in the stratiform precipitation region of mesoscale cloud clusters were investigated using wind data observed by VHF Doppler radar installed in western Sumatra Island (0.2°S, 100.32°E). A special mode for W observations was introduced in November 2003, and W data with high accuracy were obtained during most of the period, with fine resolutions of 3 min in time and 150 m in vertical direction. The typical fine structure of W within the nimbostratus in the stratiform precipitation region was investigated by the case study of 6, 8, and 20 November 2003. In the later 2 or 3 h of the stratiform precipitation period, gentle upward motions with small time and height fluctuations were observed over a several-kilometer height range from the middle to upper troposphere. Values of W were weakly positive (0?40 cm s?1) continuously, with little strong upward motion greater than 40 cm s?1 and downward motion.