Interactive comment on Retrieval of three-dimensional wind fields from Doppler radar data using an efficient two-step approach by C
This manuscript is concerned with the description and testing of a variational dualDoppler radar wind retrieval algorithm. The constraints imposed in the analysis procedure are: observational constraints, which incorporate data from two or more Doppler radars (and possibly other data sources, e.g., dropsonde or sounding observations), a mass conservation constraint (sometimes referred to in the literature as a mass continuity constraint), and spatial smoothness constraints. The procedure is general enough to incorporate data from two or more stationary Doppler radars or from a so-called "pseudo-dual-Doppler radar", that is, data from an airborne-radar that, when appropriately processed, are equivalent to data gathered from two stationary Doppler radars. The observational and mass conservation constraints are standard in dual-Doppler analysis procedures. The use of smoothness constraints is standard in variational (e.g., 3DVAR) analysis techniques. The new aspect of this study is a data gridding/reduction step designed to minimize loss of information and to generate estimates of the variances of the reduced velocities. Any improvements made in these directions would be of interest to radar and mesoscale meteorologists as it could potentially improve dualDoppler analyses of a variety of convective and non-convective weather phenomena. The new retrieval is tested with pseudo-dual-Doppler radar data from a tropical depression. Unfortunately, the results from these tests are inconclusive. A comparison of the retrieved horizontal wind vectors with the horizontal wind vectors from an independent data source (dropsondes) does indicate a qualitatively good agreement (Fig. 8). But there is relatively little challenge in obtaining qualitatively reasonable horizontal wind components from dual-Doppler or pseudo-dual Doppler data, especially on the coarse analysis grid indicated on that figure. A more challenging problem and one of prime interest to mesoscale meteorologists is the analysis of the vertical wind component. Apparently it was not possible to evaluate the accuracy of the retrieved vertical wind component in this test case. In the future it would probably be better to consider a more stringent test of the algorithm, perhaps
Flow in Severe Thunderstorms Observed bu Dual-Doppler Radar
Abstract Dual-Doppler (S-band) radar observations are used to describe both the three-dimensional flow and a fife cycle of a severe thunderstorm on 6 June 1974. The primary updraft region was near a small mesocyclonic circulation located on the storm's right (southern) flank. Rotation was first noted aloft (between 3 and 5 km elevation) and lowered with time. During the mature stage, major downdrafts were found on the storm's western edge and within the left forward (northeastern) quadrant. Outflow from both downdrafts combined near the cloud base to form a vigorous gust front. Hook echo formation is attributed to horizontal acceleration of low-level droplet-laden air as the downdrafts intensified and the outflow interacted with the inward-spiraling updraft.
The Meaning of Wisdom in James: Examination of a Hypothesis
The following essay is an attempt to examine the manner in which the writer of the Epistle of James uses the concept of Wisdom; and to study the suggestion that the way in which he uses it is more or less interchangeable with that in which other writers of the New Testament use the concept of the Holy Spirit.