Robert A. HouzeRobert A. HouzeUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Washington

Robert A. HouzeRobert A. HouzeUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Washington

Using the TRMM Precipitation Radar for Using the TRMM Precipitation Radar for Storm Structure AnalysisStorm Structure Analysis

Using the TRMM Precipitation Radar for Using the TRMM Precipitation Radar for Storm Structure AnalysisStorm Structure Analysis

Precipitation Measuring Mission Science Team Meeting, Atlanta, 7-10 May 2007Precipitation Measuring Mission Science Team Meeting, Atlanta, 7-10 May 2007

Question: Question:

Can we use TRMM PR to do traditional storm Can we use TRMM PR to do traditional storm structurestructure analysis, like we might do with a analysis, like we might do with a

NEXRAD or an airborne radar like the NEXRAD or an airborne radar like the ELDORA?ELDORA?

Question: Question:

Can we use TRMM PR to do traditional storm Can we use TRMM PR to do traditional storm structurestructure analysis, like we might do with a analysis, like we might do with a

NEXRAD or an airborne radar like the NEXRAD or an airborne radar like the ELDORA?ELDORA?

Limitation of PR is temporalLimitation of PR is temporalLimitation of PR is temporalLimitation of PR is temporal

Temporal--TRMM can’t be used to track mesoscale precipitation systemsTemporal--TRMM can’t be used to track mesoscale precipitation systems

Advantage is spatialAdvantage is spatialAdvantage is spatialAdvantage is spatial

•TRMM goes everywhere in the tropics and views storms the same way--so we can understand differences in mesoscale structure ion different regions

•PR gets fully 3D reflectivity coverage where ever it goes

•Excellent vertical resolution

•TRMM goes everywhere in the tropics and views storms the same way--so we can understand differences in mesoscale structure ion different regions

•PR gets fully 3D reflectivity coverage where ever it goes

•Excellent vertical resolution

Stumbling blockStumbling blockStumbling blockStumbling blockAppropriate analysis tools and related data format issues--hard to do meteorologist’s analysis Appropriate analysis tools and related data format issues--hard to do meteorologist’s analysis

Satellite

Geolocate

Interpolate

Re-map and interpolate the PR reflectivity fieldRe-map and interpolate the PR reflectivity fieldRe-map and interpolate the PR reflectivity fieldRe-map and interpolate the PR reflectivity field

West Africa and Adjacent AtlanticWest Africa and Adjacent AtlanticWest Africa and Adjacent AtlanticWest Africa and Adjacent Atlantic

Off the coast of West Off the coast of West AfricaAfrica

shallow-to-moderate shallow-to-moderate cellscells

mergers form mergers form stratiform regionsstratiform regions

Off the coast of West Off the coast of West AfricaAfrica

shallow-to-moderate shallow-to-moderate cellscells

mergers form mergers form stratiform regionsstratiform regions

Over land, just south Over land, just south of the Saharaof the Sahara

deep convection with deep convection with anvil echo aloftanvil echo aloft

huge squall line huge squall line systemssystems

Over land, just south Over land, just south of the Saharaof the Sahara

deep convection with deep convection with anvil echo aloftanvil echo aloft

huge squall line huge squall line systemssystems

WesternWesternSubregionSubregion

Central Central SubregionSubregion Eastern Eastern

SubregionSubregion

Mountain

Mountain

Lowland

Lowland

Foothills

Foothills

Arabian Arabian SeaSea

Bay of Bay of BengalBengal

°N

°E

INDIAINDIA

Himalayan RegionHimalayan RegionHimalayan RegionHimalayan Region

Sawyer 1947Sawyer 1947Sawyer 1947Sawyer 1947

A case of deep isolated 40 dBZ coreA case of deep isolated 40 dBZ core14 June 200214 June 2002

A case of deep isolated 40 dBZ coreA case of deep isolated 40 dBZ core14 June 200214 June 2002

0900 UTC

A case of wide 40 dBZ echo coreA case of wide 40 dBZ echo core22 July 200222 July 2002

A case of wide 40 dBZ echo coreA case of wide 40 dBZ echo core22 July 200222 July 2002

1300 UTC

Carlson et al. 1983Carlson et al. 1983Carlson et al. 1983Carlson et al. 1983

moist

dry,hot

A typical case of wide 40 dBZ echo core with line A typical case of wide 40 dBZ echo core with line organizationorganization

A typical case of wide 40 dBZ echo core with line A typical case of wide 40 dBZ echo core with line organizationorganization

3 Sep 20033 Sep 20033 Sep 20033 Sep 2003

2208 UTC

A wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line A wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line organization—rare! organization—rare!

A wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line A wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line organization—rare! organization—rare!

5 June 20035 June 20035 June 20035 June 2003

2017 UTC

10 meter level10 meter level 500 mb level500 mb level

A of wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line A of wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line organization—rare! organization—rare!

A of wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line A of wide 40 dBZ echo core with squall-line organization—rare! organization—rare!

5 June 20035 June 20035 June 20035 June 2003

500 mb jet over 500 mb jet over and parallel to and parallel to the Himalayasthe Himalayas

Deep cores over the Tibetan PlateauDeep cores over the Tibetan Plateau14 July 200214 July 2002

Deep cores over the Tibetan PlateauDeep cores over the Tibetan Plateau14 July 200214 July 2002

1227 UTC

Deep Intense Cores Deep Intense Cores 40 dBZ echo 40 dBZ echo > 10 km in height> 10 km in height

Deep Intense Cores Deep Intense Cores 40 dBZ echo 40 dBZ echo > 10 km in height> 10 km in height

WesternWesternCentralCentral

EasternEastern

Wide Intense CoresWide Intense Cores 40 dBZ echo 40 dBZ echo > 1000 km> 1000 km22 area area

Wide Intense CoresWide Intense Cores 40 dBZ echo 40 dBZ echo > 1000 km> 1000 km22 area area

Broad Stratiform EchoBroad Stratiform Echo stratiform echo stratiform echo > 50,000 km> 50,000 km22

Broad Stratiform EchoBroad Stratiform Echo stratiform echo stratiform echo > 50,000 km> 50,000 km22

Intraseasonal Variation of the MonsoonIntraseasonal Variation of the MonsoonIntraseasonal Variation of the MonsoonIntraseasonal Variation of the MonsoonWebster & Tomas 1997

39 events1985-95

Day 0:8 mm/d5N-5S80-90E

“Break”

“Active”

Broad stratiform caseBroad stratiform case11 Aug 200211 Aug 2002

Broad stratiform caseBroad stratiform case11 Aug 200211 Aug 2002

0252 UTC

0455 UTC

Broad stratiform caseBroad stratiform caseUpstream of mountainsUpstream of mountains

Broad stratiform caseBroad stratiform caseUpstream of mountainsUpstream of mountains

CFADs can be used to summarize the storm CFADs can be used to summarize the storm structures statisticallystructures statistically

CFADs can be used to summarize the storm CFADs can be used to summarize the storm structures statisticallystructures statistically

Reflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasonsReflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasonsReflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasonsReflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasons

Convection is Convection is stronger & stronger & deeper in westdeeper in west

Stratiform more Stratiform more pronounced in pronounced in easteast

Reflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasonsReflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasonsReflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasonsReflectivity data for 2 monsoon seasons

Convection is Convection is slightly deeper & slightly deeper & stronger over the stronger over the

lowlands than lowlands than the foothillsthe foothills

Hurricane Rita as Seen by the TRMM PRHurricane Rita as Seen by the TRMM PRHurricane Rita as Seen by the TRMM PRHurricane Rita as Seen by the TRMM PR

1445 UTC 22 Sep 2005

SummarySummarySummarySummary

• Re-mapping, geo-locating, and interpolating the TRMM PR data allows them to displayed in analysis tools using Cartesian gridding

• Takes full advantage of both spatial coverage and fine vertical resolution of PR

• Makes it possible to contrast and compare storm structures in detail in various regions--Africa, India, hurricanes, etc.

• Re-mapping, geo-locating, and interpolating the TRMM PR data allows them to displayed in analysis tools using Cartesian gridding

• Takes full advantage of both spatial coverage and fine vertical resolution of PR

• Makes it possible to contrast and compare storm structures in detail in various regions--Africa, India, hurricanes, etc.

ThanksThanks