Analysis and potential improvements to the WSR-88D storm cell tracking algorithm

Storm cell tracking has been an important component for storm evolution studies and real-time forecasting and warning systems. The Storm Cell Identification and Tracking (SCIT) module is currently in operational use within the WSR-88D Radar Products Generator to perform this duty. While the tracking algorithm within SCIT represents an improvement over the previous generation's cross-correlation tracking method, the algorithm has much room for improvement.

To test and improve the tracking algorithm of SCIT, the algorithm was first remade as a stand-alone program module to therefore isolate and test independently from SCIT and the WSR-88D Radar Products Generator. Then the performance of the algorithm was studied using simulated and real storm tracks. An improved version of the tracking algorithm was designed, and its performance was similarly tested. The implemented algorithm upgrades are discussed. In addition, some of the remaining issues surrounding how tracking algorithms should identify and represent the splitting and merging of storm cells are discussed.