Isolated Cumulonimbus Initiation Observed by 95-GHz FM-CW Radar, X-band Radar, and Photogrammetry in the Kanto Region, Japan

Simultaneous observations of cumulonimbi using the 95-GHz FM-CW cloud radar, the X-band radar, and photogrammetry were carried out during the summer of 2010 in the Kanto region, Japan. An isolated cumulonimbus developed above the cloud radar site after 16:00 Japan Standard Time (JST) on 24 July 2010. A continuous generation of turrets was observed and a total of four turrets formed. The growth rates of the turrets were quite different. The first radar echo of the X-band radar was detected at 3 km above ground level (AGL), three minutes after turret 1 reached its maximum height. Turret 2, generated above the cloud radar, reached 10 km AGL and had a growth rate of 8 m s-1. The cloud radar detected echoes approximately two minutes after the generation of turret 2. The intermittent echo pattern observed by the cloud radar denotes fine structures in the cumulonimbus.