Improving NEXRAD-Based Estimates of Precipitation Rates and Hydrometeor Classification

9612519 Rutledge美国天气研究计划(USWRP)是一个跨部门活动，旨在开展和实施必要的研究，以改善向国家提供的天气服务。根据这一计划，国家科学基金会和国家海洋和大气管理局正在联合评估和支持USWRP高度优先的天气研究。该提案寻求对参与美国气象研究计划的初步研究工作的支持。这项研究将集中在改进NEXRAD(下一代雷达)WSR-88D雷达网对降雨量和类型(水流星识别)的估计。首席调查员将使用研究质量的偏振雷达来改进雷达得出的降水量估计，以及评估NEXRAD算法以识别水流星。将部署两辆仪表式流动货车，其中一辆配备奥地利二维视频视盘测量仪，另一辆配备电容式雨量计、电子冰雹传感器和NCAR冰雹捕集网(用于手动收集)，以进行现场核查。由于目前雷达估计的降雨量在100公里左右的范围内几乎无效，研究人员将开发基于统计的技术来估计如此长距离的降雨量(例如，累积分布函数匹配或神经网络技术)。计划实施两项实地试点方案，一项是1996年夏季，另一项是1996-1997年冬季。计划于1998年夏天在俄克拉何马州使用国家严重风暴实验室的极化升级样机WSR-88D进行第三个野外计划。这项研究将通过提供关于降雨量和类型的更可靠的信息，对定量降水预报产生直接影响。***

9612519 Rutledge The U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP) is an interagency activity designed to perform and implement the research necessary to improve the delivery of weather services to the nation. Under this Program, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are jointly evaluating and supporting weather research of high priority to the USWRP. This proposal seeks support for participation in initial research efforts of the U.S. Weather Research Program. The research will center on improving estimates of precipitation amounts and type (hydrometeor identification) from the NEXRAD (Next Generation of Radar) WSR-88D radar network. The Principal Investigators will employ research-quality polarimetric radars to improve radar derived precipitation estimates, as well as in evaluating NEXRAD algorithms for hydrometeor identification. Two instrumented mobile vans, one of them equipped with the Austrian two dimensional video disdrometer, and the other with capacitance-type rain gage, electronic hail sensor and NCAR hail catcher net (for manual collection) will be deployed for in situ verification. Since current radar derived precipitation estimates are virtually ineffective beyond ranges of 100 km or so, the researchers will develop statistically-based techniques for estimating precipitation at such longer ranges (e.g., cumulative distribution function matching or neural network techniques). Two pilot field programs are planned, one for the summer of 1996, and the second for the winter of 1996-97. A third field program is planned for the summer of 1998 in Oklahoma using the National Severe Storm Laboratory's polarimetric upgraded prototype WSR-88D. This research will have an immediate impact on quantitative precipitation forecasting by providing more robust information on precipitation amounts and type. ***