Applications of Meteorological Radars in the Atmosphere

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 6 February 2025 | Viewed by 1645

Special Issue Editor

Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Interests: cloud microphysics; radar meteorology; severe weather forecast; numerical modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled “Applications of Meteorological Radars in the Atmosphere”, is dedicated to exploring the various applications and advancements in meteorological radar technology for atmospheric studies. This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest research, findings, and innovations in the field of atmospheric science, particularly focusing on how meteorological radars are used to understand and analyze atmospheric phenomena.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

Advancements in radar technology: Discussion of new developments in radar technology, including improvements in radar hardware, software, and data processing techniques that enhance atmospheric observations.

Weather prediction and analysis: Exploration of how meteorological radars contribute to more accurate and timely weather predictions, including the tracking of severe weather events such as storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

Climate studies: Examination of how radar data are used in climate research, including the study of long-term climate patterns and the impact of climate change on atmospheric conditions.

Hydrological applications: Investigation of the use of radars in monitoring and predicting hydrological events such as rainfall distribution, flood forecasting, and water resource management.

Atmospheric research: Insight into how radar technology aids in the understanding of atmospheric processes and dynamics, including cloud formation, air movement, and precipitation processes.

Case studies and real-world applications: Presentation of case studies or real-world examples where meteorological radars have played a crucial role in atmospheric research, emergency response, and public safety.

Integration with other technologies: Discussion on the integration of radar data with other meteorological tools and technologies, such as satellites and weather models, to provide a comprehensive understanding of atmospheric conditions.

The Special Issue seeks to highlight the critical role of meteorological radars in atmospheric science, emphasizing their importance in both research and practical applications. It aims to provide a platform for experts, researchers, and practitioners to share their knowledge, experiences, and advancements in this field.

Dr. Jiaxi Hu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • dual polarimetric radar
  • severe weather
  • climate change
  • flash flooding
  • hydrology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 3171 KiB  
Article
Tilts of Atmospheric Radar-Scattering Structures Measured by Long-Term Windprofiler Radar Studies
by Farnoush Attarzadeh and Wayne Keith Hocking
Atmosphere 2025, 16(2), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16020142 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 259
Abstract
Month-long and seasonally persistent apparent tilts in atmospheric radar scatterers have been measured with a network of six windprofiler radars over periods of two or more years. The method used employs cross-correlations between vertical winds and horizontal winds measured using the radars. It [...] Read more.
Month-long and seasonally persistent apparent tilts in atmospheric radar scatterers have been measured with a network of six windprofiler radars over periods of two or more years. The method used employs cross-correlations between vertical winds and horizontal winds measured using the radars. It is shown that large-scale apparent tilts that persisted for many weeks and months were not uncommon at many sites, with typical tilts varying from horizontal to ~3–4° from horizontal. The azimuthal and zenithal alignment of the tilts depend on local orography as well as local seasonal atmospheric conditions. It is demonstrated that these apparent tilts are not, in general, true large-scale phenomena, but rather are a manifestation of coordinated motions within turbulent and quasi-specular radar-scattering structures at scales between a few metres and tens of metres, with these structures themselves being defined by larger-scale and longer-term physical processes. Windshear combined with breaking gravity waves seems to be a particularly effective mechanism for producing these tilts, although other possibilities are also discussed. Implications for the interpretation of the nature of turbulent eddies, the accuracy of vertical wind measurements, and the nature of layering and scattering in the real atmosphere, are discussed. A method which allows for accurate measurements of the mean off-horizontal alignment of anisotropic scatterers and turbulent eddies is introduced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Meteorological Radars in the Atmosphere)
14 pages, 26814 KiB  
Article
A Radar-Based Methodology for Aerosol Plume Identification and Characterisation on the South African Highveld
by Gerhardt Botha, Roelof Petrus Burger and Henno Havenga
Atmosphere 2024, 15(10), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15101201 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 743
Abstract
Biomass burning on the South African Highveld annually injects substantial amounts of aerosols and trace gases into the atmosphere, impacting the global radiative balance, cloud microphysics, and regional air quality. These aerosols are transported as plumes over long distances, posing challenges to existing [...] Read more.
Biomass burning on the South African Highveld annually injects substantial amounts of aerosols and trace gases into the atmosphere, impacting the global radiative balance, cloud microphysics, and regional air quality. These aerosols are transported as plumes over long distances, posing challenges to existing in situ and satellite-based monitoring techniques because of their limited spatial and temporal resolution, particularly in environments with low-level sources. This study aims to develop and validate a novel radar-based methodology to detect, track, and characterise aerosol plumes, addressing the limitations of existing in situ and satellite monitoring techniques. Using high-resolution volumetric reflectivity data from an S-band radar in Pretoria, South Africa, a traditional storm tracking algorithm is adapted to improve plume identification. Case studies of plume events in June and August 2013 demonstrate the radar’s effectiveness in distinguishing lower vertical profiles and reduced reflectivity of plumes compared with storm echoes. The adapted algorithm successfully tracked the spatial and temporal evolution of the plumes, revealing their short-lived nature. Results indicate that radar-derived geospatial characteristics have the potential to contribute significantly to understanding the impacts of plumes on local air quality. These findings underscore the critical need for high spatio-temporal resolution data to support effective air quality management and inform policy development in regions affected by biomass burning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Meteorological Radars in the Atmosphere)
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