Articles | Volume 8, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2173-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2173-2015
Research article
 | 
22 May 2015
Research article |  | 22 May 2015

Quality-based generation of weather radar Cartesian products

K. Ośródka and J. Szturc

Abstract. Weather radar data volumes are commonly processed to obtain various 2-D Cartesian products based on the transfer from polar to Cartesian representations through a certain interpolation method. In this research an algorithm of the spatial interpolation of polar reflectivity data employing quality index data is applied to find the Cartesian reflectivity as plan position indicator products. On this basis, quality-based versions of standard algorithms for the generation of the following products have been developed: ETOP (echo top), MAX (maximum of reflectivity), and VIL (vertically integrated liquid water). Moreover, as an example of a higher-level product, a CONVECTION (detection of convection) has been defined as a specific combination of the above-listed standard products. A corresponding quality field is determined for each generated product, taking into account the quality of the pixels from which a given product was determined and how large a fraction of the investigated heights was scanned. Examples of such quality-based products are presented in the paper.

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Short summary
Weather radar data are processed to obtain various 2D products. In this research, an algorithm of interpolation of polar reflectivity data with respect to quality index (QI) data is applied to find the Cartesian reflectivity as PPI products and generate a corresponding QI field. On this basis, quality-based algorithms for the generation of the standard products have been developed: ETOP, MAX, and VIL. Moreover a detection of convection has been defined as a specific combination of the products.