Single Radar AzShear

Posted in AzShear on by Kristin Calhoun.

The GOOD

1) can make detection of the updraft/downdraft convergence zone (UDCZ) quite clear.  By overlaying things like 0-3km shear, could use this to highlight areas of mesovort development.

2)  Storms with strongest rotation “pop”.   I would use this in my typical volumetric interpretation – likely into a 6 or 9pnl display with other base and dual pol variables.   Could also compare to the integrated 0-2km rotation tracks.

The NOT SO GOOD

  1. Not surprising, the single radar azshear data can be “noisy” – but most of this is in areas that you would not be as concerned about – e.g. well behind the leading line.  But forecasters will need to adjust.
  2. Forecasters will need to “calibrate” values.  Exactly what does 0.008 s-1 mean?  How does this change by range?  What about by tilt?
  3. Is the color scale idea?  Features appear to stand out – but could others be developed to highlight things even better.6