An Automatic Recognition Method for Airflow Field Structures of Convective Systems Based on Single Doppler Radar Data

• Main Authors: Ping Wang, Kai Gu, Jinyi Hou, Bingjie Dou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: Atmosphere
• Subjects: single doppler radar; airflow field; automatic recognition; convective systems; airflow type; airflow intensity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/2/142

Airflow structures within convective systems are important predictors of damaging convective disasters. To automatically recognize different kinds of airflow structures (the convergence, divergence, cyclonic rotation, and anticyclonic rotation) within convective systems, an airflow structure recognition method is proposed, in this paper, based on a regular hexagonal template. On the basis of single Doppler radar data, the template is designed according to the appearance model of airflows in radial velocity maps. The proposed method is able to output types and intensities of airflow structures within convective systems. In addition, the outputs of the proposed method are integrated into a projection map of the airflow field structure types and intensities (PMAFSTI), which is developed in this work to visualize three-dimensional airflow structures within convective cells. The proposed airflow structure automatic recognition method and the PMAFSTI were tested using three typical cases. Results of the tests suggest the following: (1) At different evolution stages of the convective systems, e.g., growth, split, and dissipation, the three-dimensional distribution of the airflow fields within convective systems could be clearly observed through the PMAFSTI and (2) on the basis of recognizing the structures of the airflow field, the complex airflow field, such as a squall line, could be further divided into several small parts making the analysis of convective systems more scientific and elaborate.