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Small cumuli observed with a 3 mm wavelength Doppler radar
Author(s) -
Lhermitte Roger M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl014i007p00707
Subject(s) - radar , liquid water content , inversion (geology) , reflectivity , doppler effect , cloud computing , geology , wavelength , meteorology , doppler radar , remote sensing , cloud top , environmental science , optics , physics , geomorphology , computer science , telecommunications , astronomy , structural basin , operating system
The paper presents quantitative millimeter wave Doppler radar observations of radar reflectivity and air vertical velocity inside shallow cumuli whose vertical development is restricted by a capping inversion layer. The maximum observed radar reflectivity is −34 to −30 dBZ, which is equivalent to a cloud liquid water content of 0.1 to 0.25 g/m³ depending on cloud droplet size. The main updraft region, which coincides roughly with the maximum reflectivity region, occupies the center of the cloud and extends throughout the radar‐visible cloud depth. Downdrafts exhibit more complex structure and are found on the cloud edges.