VVP TECHNIQUE APPLIED TO AN ALBERTA STORM

The volume velocity processing (VVP) technique is used with a simulate d wind field to determine the accuracy of kinematic quantities for dif ferent numbers of wind parameters and different sizes of analysis volu mes. Accurate estimates of divergence, deformation, and vertical shear are obtained if the VVP method contains seven wind parameters and the analysis volumes have a range of about 20 km and an azimuthal extent of about 40 degrees. The seven-parameter VVP method is applied to a co nvective storm in central Alberta, Canada. The analysis showed that lo w-level convergence and moderate vertical shear preceded the enhanceme nt of precipitation, while low-level divergence suppressed the convect ion.