Velocity Spectra of Vortices Scanned with a Pulse-Doppler Radar

Abstract

Doppler velocity spectra of a combined Rankine model vortex are computed by assuming a Gaussian antenna pattern, various vortex sizes, pulse volume depths, and reflectivity profiles. Both very narrow and very broad antenna beamwidths may produce bimodal spectra. Most often, the theoretically derived spectra exhibit a rapid power decrease for spectral components near maximum velocity which agrees with an experimental observation previously reported. In spring 1973, NSSL's 10 cm, high-resolution Doppler radar scanned the vicinity of a large tornado that devastated Union City, Okla. Digital radar samples were recorded and Fourier-analyzed to derive power spectra for sample volumes spaced about the vortex location. Power spectra were examined for white noise type signatures that indicated vortex rotation contained within the radar sample volume. Spectra were simulated using radar and tornado cyclone parameters matched to those existing during the observations to determine spectral features for comparison with those recorded by the pulse-Doppler radar. The reflectivity throughout and around the funnel was uniform and spectra compared well. Although the precise vortex center location could not be deduced its position was consistent with tornado position determined from film documentation. In the gates containing vortex signatures spectral standard deviations were consistently maximal.