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Vertical Distribution of Radar Reflectivity in Hurricanes in the Presence of Shear. Jennifer C. DeHart, Robert A. Houze, Jr. and Deanna A. Hence University of Washington AMS Tropical Conference – 4.19.12. Image: NASA. UL. DL. UR. DR. Black et al., 2002 modified by Houze 2009.
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Vertical Distribution of Radar Reflectivity in Hurricanes in the Presence of Shear Jennifer C. DeHart, Robert A. Houze, Jr. and Deanna A. Hence University of Washington AMS Tropical Conference – 4.19.12 Image: NASA
UL DL UR DR Black et al., 2002 modified by Houze 2009
Quantifying Vertical Structure • Hence and Houze 2011, 2012 (a,b) analyzed data from TRMM PR • Snapshots of radar reflectivity • 10+ years of data • Contoured by Frequency Altitude Diagrams (CFADs) • 200-850hPa shear from NCEP
Height (km) Reflectivity (dBZ) Hence and Houze 2011
DL DR 8 Shear 6 2 Height (km) UL UR 8 6 2 30 40 30 40 Courtesy of D. Hence Reflectivity (dBZ)
Field Campaigns • RAINEX (2005) • Katrina: 8/28 • NOAA 43 • IFEX/GRIP (2010) • Earl: 8/29, 8/30, 9/1, 9/2 • NOAA 42 & 43
Conclusions • Structures of Katrina and Earl at strong intensities share similarities with statistics • Intense low-level reflectivities • Early sampling of Earl on 8/30 did not • Shear calculation issue? • Rapid Intensification? • Circulation pattern?
EndThis research was supported by NSF grant # ATM-0743180 and NASA grant #NNX09AM73G