Tropical Convection Observed During the Hawaiian Educational Radar Opportunity (HERO)

A National Science Foundation Educational Deployment of a Doppler on Wheels radar called the “Hawaiian Educational Radar Opportunity” (HERO) was conducted on O'ahu from 21 October to 13 November 2013. A total of 16 intensive observing periods collected many hours of tropical weather radar observations through a collaborative effort between undergraduates, graduate students, and the National Weather Service. The educational project involved approximately 50 people assisting with radar and sounding operations over the 3-week period, and over 7,500 visitors to the DOW during a 2-day School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) Open House.

A summary of the HERO project, and highlights of the most interesting tropical rain and cloud observations will be presented. The radar observations include deep convective thunderstorms, a variety of trade wind showers, and a widespread heavy rain event associated with a cold frontal passage. Detailed convective structures down to 15-meter resolution, dual-polarimetric characteristics of hydrometeors, and Doppler wind fields will be discussed.