Preliminary Comparison of Model and Polarimetric Radar Derived Estimates of Boundary Layer Height to High Temporal Resolution Radiosonde Data

Previous studies have established the utility of polarimetric weather radars in estimating the height of the convective boundary layer, specifically using the quasi-vertical profile (QVP) method. However, this work has mostly focused on comparing one in-situ measurement taken from a radiosonde at 00Z to the QVP estimated boundary layer height. Additionally, the site of the radiosonde launch was co-located with the radar site. This preliminary study will explore the potential of adapting these techniques to estimate the daily evolution of the boundary layer at locations horizontally displaced from the radar site. Radiosondes will be deployed every two hours between 10Z and 00Z in Annapolis, MD, at the U.S. Naval Academy. Boundary layer height measurements from these radiosondes will be compared to QVP estimates of boundary layer height from the WSR-88D radars in Sterling, VA (KLWX) and Dover, DE (KDOX). Additionally, this QVP method will be refined by restricting the azimuthal and distance ranges used in this method, following past studies that have employed the “range-defined” QVP and columnar vertical profile (CVP), to see if these adaptations show improvements in boundary layer height estimates. Preliminary results will be compared against boundary layer heights from the Rapid Refresh (RAP) model.