MANDOP analysis over complex orography in the context of the MAP experiment

Citation
P. Tabary et G. Scialom, MANDOP analysis over complex orography in the context of the MAP experiment, J ATMOSP OC, 18(8), 2001, pp. 1293-1314
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC TECHNOLOGY
ISSN journal
07390572 → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
8
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1293 - 1314
Database
ISI
SICI code
0739-0572(2001)18:8<1293:MAOCOI>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
The present paper deals with the adaptation of the Multiple Analytical Dopp ler (MANDOP) analysis to Doppler radar observations over complex orography. The objective, in the context of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP), is to design a reliable and flexible tool able to process any kind of radar da ta (airborne/ground based) in order to retrieve mesoscale three-dimensional wind fields over complex terrain with a convective-scale resolution. The v arious effects of the orography on the wind field (slope winds) and on the radar sampling (ground clutter, shadowing effect) are considered and taken into account in each step of the wind synthesis. In addition to these speci fic aspects, some numerical improvements are presented that make the method quicker and more objective. The method is validated with quasi-real simula ted data, and three different boundary conditions are compared (bottom, top , and both). The analysis is eventually applied to real data gathered durin g IOP2b of the MAP special observing period (SOP) by the C-band Ronsard and Monte Lema Doppler radars, allowing interpretation of the reflectivity and velocity patterns in close correlation with the orography.