Radar Meteorology / Edition 1

by Henri Sauvageot

Overview

"Covers a wide range of topics. Should be both interesting and challenging to the novice. ...a handy guide for those in the field". -- Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780890063187
Publisher:	Artech House, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/01/1992
Series:	Artech House Radar Library Series
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

	Preface	xi
Chapter 1	Basic Concepts of Radar	1
1.1	Introduction	1
1.2	The Sensor	4
1.2.1	Noncoherent Pulse Radar	4
1.2.2	Pulsed Doppler Radar	8
1.2.3	Display of the Data	14
1.2.4	Sensitivity of the Receiver	16
1.2.5	Antenna	20
1.2.6	Resolution	33
1.2.7	Refraction	35
1.2.8	Attenuation	41
1.3	The Radar Equation: General Forms	41
1.3.1	Single Scatterer	41
1.3.2	Distributed Target	43
1.4	Calibration and Setting Up	46
1.5	Meteorological Signals	48
1.5.1	Meteorological Targets	48
1.5.2	Signal Statistics	51
1.5.3	Decorrelation Time: Independent Samples	53
1.5.4	Sample Time Averaging: Reducing the Variance of the Mean	56
1.5.5	Reducing the Integration Time	58
1.5.6	Detecting Weak Signals	61
1.5.7	Sampling and Demultiplexing	66
Chapter 2	Hydrological Measurements	69
2.1	Introduction	69
2.2	Clouds and Precipitation	70
2.2.1	Physical Processes of Formation	70
2.2.2	Hydrometeor Size Distributions: General Forms	70
2.2.3	Integral Parameters	74
2.2.4	Clouds	77
2.2.5	Precipitation	78
2.2.6	Terminal Fall Velocity of Hydrometeors	81
2.2.7	The Shape of Hydrometeors	85
2.3	Scattering and Attenuation Cross Sections	88
2.3.1	Homogeneous Spherical Particles	88
2.3.2	Nonhomogeneous Particles	97
2.3.3	Nonspherical Particles	99
2.4	Atmospheric Attenuation	102
2.4.1	Attenuation by Gases	103
2.4.2	Attenuation by Clouds	103
2.4.3	Attenuation by Precipitation	105
2.5	Backscattering by Clouds and Precipitation	111
2.5.1	Radar Reflectivity Factor	111
2.5.2	Z and X Relations	114
2.5.3	Polarization Measurements	123
2.5.4	Hail Precipitation Detection	134
2.5.5	Lightning Detection	141
2.5.6	Artifacts	145
2.5.7	Particular Meteorological Forms of the Radar Equation	145
2.6	Precipitation Measurements	150
2.6.1	Introduction	150
2.6.2	Single-Wavelength Reflectivity	152
2.6.3	Radar and Rain Gauge	153
2.6.4	Single-Wavelength Attenuation Measurements	157
2.6.5	Dual-Wavelength a-R Method	159
2.6.6	Dual-Wavelength N(D) Method	160
2.6.7	Dual Polarization	161
2.6.8	Area Integral Methods for Convective Rainfall	164
2.7	Radar Networks	167
2.8	Short-Term Forecasting	169
2.9	Radars and Satellites	170
2.9.1	Technical Aspects	171
2.9.2	Estimation of Precipitation with Visible and Infrared Data	172
2.9.3	Rain Estimation by Passive Microwave Methods	173
2.9.4	Orbital Radars	177
Chapter 3	Velocity Measurements	181
3.1	The Doppler Spectrum	182
3.1.1	Spectral Parameters	182
3.1.2	Discrete-Fourier Transform	185
3.1.3	Estimators of Spectral Moments	191
3.1.4	Factors Affecting the Width of the Doppler Spectrum	200
3.1.5	Ground Clutter Suppression	204
3.2	Doppler Spectra at Vertical Incidence	205
3.2.1	Size Distribution of Precipitation	206
3.2.2	Vertical Air Velocity	207
3.3	Measurement of the Velocity Fields with a Single Doppler Radar	210
3.3.1	Analysis of the Mean Field by the VAD Method	210
3.3.2	The VVP Method	215
3.3.3	Display of the Radial Velocity	217
3.4	Measurement of Turbulence	220
3.4.1	The Inertial Domain	221
3.4.2	Measurement of Rate of Dissipation of Turbulent Kinetic Energy	222
3.4.3	The Turbulence Field	223
3.5	Measurement of the Velocity Fields with Several Doppler Radars	226
3.6	Retrieval of the Thermodynamic and Microphysical Fields	228
3.7	Airborne Radar	230
Chapter 4	Observation of Clear Air	233
4.1	Introduction	233
4.2	Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves by a Turbulent Medium	234
4.2.1	General Relations	234
4.2.2	Reflectivity in the Inertial Domain	236
4.2.3	Relationship Between Radar Reflectivity and the Average Atmospheric Field	238
4.3	ST Radar	240
4.3.1	Influence of the Wavelength	240
4.3.2	Wind Measurements	243
4.3.3	Reflectivity	245
4.3.4	Networks of ST Radar	247
4.4	Rass	249
4.5	Insects	252
4.5.1	General Characteristics	252
4.5.2	Insects and Birds	255
4.5.3	Observations	256
4.6	Artificial Tracers	256
4.6.1	General Properties	256
4.6.2	Applications to Atmospheric Observation	257
Chapter 5	Introduction to the Study of Some Meteorological Structures by Radar	261
5.1	Introduction	261
5.1.1	Diversity of Meteorological Structures	261
5.1.2	Movements of the Atmosphere	261
5.1.3	The Area of Radar Application	265
5.2	Convection in the Planetary Boundary Layer	266
5.2.1	The Convective Boundary Layer	266
5.2.2	Observation of the Convective Field	267
5.2.3	The Aerobiological Field	270
5.2.4	Pollution and Plumes	271
5.3	Deep Convection and Thunderstorms	273
5.3.1	The Convective Cells	275
5.3.2	Convective Storm Structure	278
5.3.3	Squall Lines	284
5.3.4	Microbursts	285
5.3.5	Hail	288
5.3.6	Electrical Activity of Storms	289
5.4	Tornadoes and Vortexes	290
5.4.1	General Characteristics	290
5.4.2	Identification of Vortexes by Radar	291
5.4.3	Application to Warning Systems	297
5.5	Extratropical Cyclone Disturbances and Stratiform Clouds	298
5.5.1	Structure of Extratropical Cyclone Disturbances	298
5.5.2	Stratiform Precipitation	303
5.6	Tropical Cyclones	312
5.7	Turbulent Stratifications and Shear Instability	314
5.8	Experimental Modification of Clouds and Precipitation	318
Appendix 1	Bibliographical Note	321
Appendix 2	Units and Symbols	323
Appendix 3	List of Constants	327
Appendix 4	Definitions and Various Numerical Values	329
	References	339
	Index	363

Editorial Reviews

Translation of the French work published by Eyrolles of Paris, date not stated. Radar has established itself as the perfect instrument for remote sensing of the atmosphere, and despite remarkable applications thus far, the best may be yet to come. This compact and accessible introduction to meteorologic measurement and observation of atmospheric processes by radar is meant for the diverse readers (e.g. pilots, engineers, ornithologists) for whom radar is a valuable tool. Assumes basic knowledge of physics and math (two years college level), and elementary concepts of meteorology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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