Polarization characteristics of winter storms in Oklahoma

In the Spring of 2002, the National Severe Storms Laboratory KOUN WSR-88D radar was upgraded to include dual-polarization capabilities. Since then, polarimetric radar data have been collected in 15 winter weather events, thereby providing statistical information that allows us to now quantify the polarimetric characteristics of winter precipitation in Oklahoma. Particular attention is given to the discrimination between precipitation types. Radar reflectivity (Z), differential reflectivity (ZDR), specific differential phase (KDP), and correlation coefficient (ĉhv) are used to characterize the polarimetric differences between regions of dry and wet snow, sleet, ice pellets, and freezing rain (through direct comparisons and the use of scatterplots of polarimetric variables in regions of known precipitation type). Rain/snow transition lines and the polarimetric signatures of melting snow and low bright band regions are also investigated.

While the dataset is examined in bulk, the study focuses on 5 events that occurred during the winter of 2004-2005. When possible, the synoptic/dynamic environments to which the precipitation structure might be attributed are discussed in the analysis.