vertical distribution of radar reflectivity in hurricanes in the presence of shear
DESCRIPTION
Vertical Distribution of Radar Reflectivity in Hurricanes in the Presence of Shear. Jennifer C. DeHart, Robert A. Houze, Jr. and Deanna A. Hence University of Washington AMS Tropical Conference – 4.19.12. Image: NASA. UL. DL. UR. DR. Black et al., 2002 modified by Houze 2009. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Vertical Distribution of Radar Reflectivity in Hurricanes in the Presence of Shear
Image: NASA
Black et al., 2002 modified by Houze 2009
DL
UR DR
UL
Quantifying Vertical Structure
• Hence and Houze 2011, 2012 (a,b) analyzed data from TRMM PR– Snapshots of radar reflectivity– 10+ years of data– Contoured by Frequency Altitude Diagrams
(CFADs)• 200-850hPa shear from NCEP
Hence and Houze 2011 Reflectivity (dBZ)
Heig
ht (k
m)
Hence and Houze 2011
Heig
ht (k
m)
Reflectivity (dBZ)30 3040 40
2
2
6
6
8
8DL DR
URUL
Shea
r
Courtesy of D. Hence
Field Campaigns• RAINEX (2005)– Katrina: 8/28– NOAA 43
• IFEX/GRIP (2010)– Earl: 8/29, 8/30, 9/1, 9/2– NOAA 42 & 43
Hurricane Katrina – 8/28/2005
Shea
r
Shea
r
Hurricane Earl – 8/30/2010
Shea
r
Hurricane Earl – 8/30/2010
Shea
r
Conclusions
• Structures of Katrina and Earl at strong intensities share similarities with statistics– Intense low-level reflectivities
• Early sampling of Earl on 8/30 did not– Shear calculation issue?– Rapid Intensification?– Circulation pattern?
EndThis research was supported by NSF grant # ATM-0743180 and NASA grant #NNX09AM73G