Title :
Microwave Radiometric Observation of a Waterspout Over Coastal Arabian Sea
Author :
Raju, C. Suresh ; Renju, R. ; Antony, Tinu ; Mathew, Neil ; Krishna Moorthy, K.
Author_Institution :
Space Phys. Lab., Thiruvananthapuram, India
Abstract :
This letter discusses the background thermodynamic conditions of a convective cloud during the occurrence of a waterspout. This study is conducted using a very unique experimental observation of a ground-based multifrequency microwave radiometer which was set to scan the atmosphere in seven elevation angles. The spatio-temporal variations of the cloud microphysical parameters during the evolution of a multicell convective cumulus system are studied. Humidity and temperature anomalies deduced from the radiometric observation could clearly explain the convective processes like the formation of an intense updraft of moist air, convective heating due to large latent heat energy release, and cooling of the lower atmosphere below 2-km altitude by the downdrafting dry air. The measurements from collocated IR radiometer, surface met sensors, and calculated CAPE showed the formation of an intense convection in a humid warm atmosphere over a shallow warm ocean (conducive to formation of a waterspout). Studies on the evolution of cloud parameters during the life cycle of convective precipitation are of great interest in weather forecasting.
Keywords :
atmospheric humidity; atmospheric precipitation; atmospheric temperature; clouds; convection; oceanographic regions; weather forecasting; CAPE; background thermodynamic conditions; cloud microphysical parameters; cloud parameters; coastal Arabian sea waterspout; collocated IR radiometer; convective cloud; convective precipitation; convective processes; downdrafting dry air; elevation angles; ground-based multifrequency microwave radiometer; humid warm atmosphere; humidity anomalies; latent heat energy release; lower atmosphere cooling; microwave radiometric observation; moist air; multicell convective cumulus system; shallow warm ocean; spatiotemporal variations; surface met sensors; temperature anomalies; weather forecasting; Clouds; Humidity; Microwave radiometry; Microwave theory and techniques; Ocean temperature; Sea measurements; Temperature measurement; Convective system; microwave radiometer; waterspout;
Journal_Title :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LGRS.2012.2229960