This module presents radar case studies taken from events in the Caribbean that highlight radar signatures of severe weather. These cases include examples of deep convection, squall lines, bow echoes, tornadoes, and heavy rain resulting in flooding. Each case study includes a discussion of the conceptual models of each type of event as a review before showing the radar signatures and allowing the learner to analyze each one.
When you have completed these case studies you should be able to:
Apply conceptual models of weather phenomena to interpret radar imagery
Describe aviation hazards associated with specific weather phenomena
Identify locations likely to be affected by mesoscale convective systems and heavy rainfall using radar imagery
radar, remote sensing, tornado, squall line, bow echo, flood, strong winds, aviation impacts, heavy rain, mesoscale convective systems
October 2020 - The lesson was updated to current internet standards (mp4/html5), with no changes to content.
December 31, 2013: This update adds a fourth case study, Hurricane Georges to the lesson. The case focuses on the storm as it moved over the islands of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on 21-22 September 1998. The case study highlights the importance of radar imagery in diagnosing the intensity of convective rainfall and the effects of terrain. The availability of radar data from research aircraft provides a more detailed view of the reflectivity and wind fields induced by complex terrain over Hispaniola.
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