Real-Time Wind Measurement in Extratropical Cyclones by Means of Doppler Radar

Color displays of the velocities of precipitation particles detected with a C-band Doppler radar in wide-spread cyclonic storms provide a variety of real-time information on the atmospheric wind field. Vertical profiles of wind speed and direction indicated by the real-time color displays agree well with rawinsonde measurements. Veering winds (or warm advection) produce a striking S-shaped pattern on the color display and backing winds (or cold advection) produce a backward S. A maximum in the vertical profile of wind speed is indicated by a pair of concentric colored rings, one upwind and one downwind of the radar. Vertically sloping velocity maxima are indicated by asymmetries in the color displays, as are confluent and difluent winds. Divergence and convergence computed from the real-time color displays are of reasonable magnitude.