Radar based characterization of the tropical boundary layer

The Rain In Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) experiment occurred during winter 2004/2005 with operations based on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. The over-riding purpose of RICO was to determine the mechanisms which contribute to the initiation and the longevity of the trade wind fair weather cumuli. In an effort to augment the rawinsonde characterization of the environmental moisture profile, use was made of NCAR's SPol radar data. A methodology was developed using wavelet analysis to characterize the layered humidity structure of the atmosphere extending upwards from the mixed layer top. Because S-band radars provide high resolution data both spatially and temporally, this methodology enables a more representative calculation of tropical boundary layer structure statistics than do soundings alone. Statistical results based on this radar analysis will be presented.