WSR-88D Dual-Polarization Observations of the 2017 Thomas Fire in Southern California

The 2017 California wildfires resulted in one of the most destructive years on record and underscored the importance of understanding fire behavior, ember transport, and defensible space in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). One of the most damaging fires in 2017 was the Thomas Fire, that occurred in Ventura County in December. It began very near the KVTX WSR-88D radar, offering an opportunity to examine the dual-polarization radar signatures of a significant wildland fire and its associated plume. In this study, horizontal reflectivity, differential reflectivity, and correlation coefficient are used to extract information on possible scatter types and orientation, including wind-blown embers. Qualitative observations of fire behavior are also coupled with laboratory ember measurements and the available radar observations to determine if there are any observable differences in the dual-pol signatures within the plume and if wind-blown embers can be resolved.