Dual-wavelength Doppler Radar Studies of Thunderstorms

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The objective of this research is the relationship between lightning discharges and cloud micro.physical processes using vertically pointing, co.linear, UHF and VHF Doppler radars. In thunderstorms, Doppler spectra taken at UHF and VHF Doppler radars. In thunderstorms, Doppler spectra taken at UHF provide velocity information about precipitation particles, while Doppler spectra taken at VHF provide additional velocity information about the clear air. Simultaneous acquisition of data from these two radars will allow for a complete solution to the problem of transforming Doppler power spectra into particle size descriptions and integral parameters derived from these distributions will be examined for significant changes before and after lightning is detected in the radar beam. Further, the hypothesis that the lightning channel acts as a perfect tracer of the air motion will be tested. And, finally if an absolute calibration of both radars can be obtained, then the wavelength dependence of both the volume reflectivity of lightning and the turbulent intensity will be determined.