An Integrated View of Convection from MC3E

Description

The unprecedented collection of instrumentation available from the Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) in 2011 allows for a comprehensive top-to-bottom examination of convection. How is this data best used to provide an integrated view of storm dynamics and kinematics? With multiple wavelengths of dual-polarization precipitation radars, a unique opportunity to utilize the strengths of each radar wavelength for examining cloud microphysics is presented. A so-called multi-wavelength hydrometeor classification algorithm (MWHID) is described to integrate data from X-, C- and S-band. The MWHID weights hydrometeor types differently based on the ability of each radar wavelength to detect them. This methodology accounts for complications from non-Rayleigh effects and attenuation at C- and X-band as well as the increased sensitivity to differential phase shifts with decreasing radar wavelength. The MWHID is compared to hydrometeor classifications from the nearby high-resolution NASA S-band NPOL radar in attempt to explore the effectiveness of the new methodology, and surface observations from disdrometers are used to look at where the algorithm classifies so-called big drops (drops larger than 5 mm in diameter). Performance is evaluated for several convective cases during the MC3E project. In addition to the multiple precipitation radars, instrumentation around the ARM central facility included coverage by the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) and a large surface array of disdrometers. Analysis of lightning flashes from the LMA and drop-size distributions (DSDs) from the disdrometers are put into a larger context through kinematic and microphysical analysis from radar-derived bulk hydrometeor classification and dual-Doppler derived 3D winds. In particular, the 23 May 2011 case is examined utilizing the radar-derived microphysical and kinematic fields, LMA lightning characteristics, and surface rainfall characteristics providing a comprehensive look at a strong, electrically active (~ 200 flashes per minute) convective case.