TY - JOUR
T1 - Observing the pre-convective environment and convection initiation with Doppler Lidar and cloud radar in the Al Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates
AU - Branch, Oliver
AU - Behrendt, Andreas
AU - Alnayef, Osama
AU - Späth, Florian
AU - Schwitalla, Thomas
AU - Temimi, Marouane
AU - Weston, Michael
AU - Farrah, Sufian
AU - Al Yazeedi, Omar
AU - Tampi, Siddharth
AU - de Waal, Karel
AU - Wulfmeyer, Volker
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The authors.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In this study, we present multi-season measurements from a remote mountain peak observatory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During the campaign, Doppler lidar and cloud radar were employed using coordinated scan patterns, to study seedable convective clouds, and identify pre-convection initiation clear-air signatures. The instruments were employed for approximately two years in an extreme environment with a high vantage point for observing valley wind f ows and convective cells. The instruments were conf gured to run synchronized plan position indicator (PPI) scans at 0°, 5°, and 45° elevation angles and vertical cross-section range height indicator (RHI) scans at 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and 150° azimuth angles. Using this output imagery, along with local C-band radar and satellite data, we were able to identify and analyse several convective cases. To illustrate this synergy of measurements, we present two cases in unstable conditions – the 5 and 6 September 2018. In both cases, we observed areas of convergence/divergence to the south-west of the observatory, associated with wind f ow around a peak 2 km to the south-west. The extension of these deformations were visible in the atmosphere as high as 3 km above sea level. Subsequently, we observed convective cells developing in the same directions – apparently connected with these phenomena. The cloud radar Doppler images provided detailed observations of cloud hydrometeor dynamics. In both convective cases, pre-convective signatures were apparent before CI, in the form of convergence, wind shear structures, and updrafts. These results demonstrate the potential of these synergetic observations for understanding convection initiation processes and in the future, to provide cloud seeding guidance via early detection of CI events.
AB - In this study, we present multi-season measurements from a remote mountain peak observatory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During the campaign, Doppler lidar and cloud radar were employed using coordinated scan patterns, to study seedable convective clouds, and identify pre-convection initiation clear-air signatures. The instruments were employed for approximately two years in an extreme environment with a high vantage point for observing valley wind f ows and convective cells. The instruments were conf gured to run synchronized plan position indicator (PPI) scans at 0°, 5°, and 45° elevation angles and vertical cross-section range height indicator (RHI) scans at 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and 150° azimuth angles. Using this output imagery, along with local C-band radar and satellite data, we were able to identify and analyse several convective cases. To illustrate this synergy of measurements, we present two cases in unstable conditions – the 5 and 6 September 2018. In both cases, we observed areas of convergence/divergence to the south-west of the observatory, associated with wind f ow around a peak 2 km to the south-west. The extension of these deformations were visible in the atmosphere as high as 3 km above sea level. Subsequently, we observed convective cells developing in the same directions – apparently connected with these phenomena. The cloud radar Doppler images provided detailed observations of cloud hydrometeor dynamics. In both convective cases, pre-convective signatures were apparent before CI, in the form of convergence, wind shear structures, and updrafts. These results demonstrate the potential of these synergetic observations for understanding convection initiation processes and in the future, to provide cloud seeding guidance via early detection of CI events.
KW - Convection initiation
KW - Doppler lidar
KW - arid
KW - cloud radar
KW - mountains
KW - remote sensing
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U2 - 10.1127/metz/2021/1100
DO - 10.1127/metz/2021/1100
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85133480999
SN - 0941-2948
VL - 31
SP - 149
EP - 170
JO - Meteorologische Zeitschrift
JF - Meteorologische Zeitschrift
IS - 2
ER -