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Cold frontal structure derived from radar wind profilers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1998

K A Browning
Affiliation:
Joint Centre for Mesoscale Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6BB, UK
D Jerrett
Affiliation:
Meteorological Office, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 2SZ, UK
J Nash
Affiliation:
Meteorological Office, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 2SZ, UK
T Oakley
Affiliation:
Meteorological Office, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 2SZ, UK
N M Roberts
Affiliation:
Joint Centre for Mesoscale Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6BB, UK
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Abstract

Colocated UHF and VHF wind profiler radars have been operated during the passage of a sharp cold front. The results demonstrate the utility of the profilers, in conjunction with a conceptual model, for identifying and quantifying many of the features commonly associated with such fronts: low-level and upper-level jets, and rearward-sloping warm-conveyor-belt flow with underlying rear-inflow. The UHF radar detected much of the transverse circulation and also the vertical distribution of precipitation, including a possible region of evaporation associated with the dry rear-inflow jet. The VHF radar, in addition to extending the velocity measurements above the level of the precipitation, mapped the tropopause and, in particular, identified a tropopause fold, the position of which corresponded to the origin of the rear-inflow jet detected by both profilers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Meteorological Society

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