Some Doppler Radar Measurements of Circulation Patterns in Convective Storms

Abstract

Using Doppler radar measurements, an attempt has been made to determine whether convective storms have characteristic internal circulation patterns. Both vertical and horizontal velocity data were used in the analysis. Height profiles of the average vertical velocity in variety of storms reveal some striking similarities. In addition, organized patterns in the horizontal wind field over the 2?3 km height interval have been observed which are evidently closely associated with the precipitation echo. The patterns have an apparent wavelike structure with scales of 3?4 km. This horizontal dimension approximates the size of individual shower cells, but is smaller than the complex systems of showers that are frequently observed.