Toward long-term statistics of convective cores using UHF wind profilers and ARM scanning weather radar systems

Measurements of vertical velocity in deep convection and associated storm characteristics are high priority observations for climate modelers. To improve our understanding of these cloud systems, the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) recently deployed a network of scanning weather radars to provide multi-Doppler retrievals of 3D wind fields and storm structure. In unison with this push, ARM reconfigured its existing wind profilers to operate in vertically-pointing modes for sampling through deep convective storms. Unique UHF profiler modes were designed to allow scanning radar convective observations as well as evaluation of errors for scanning radar retrievals.

In this study, we explore convective updraft and downdraft core properties, including vertical velocity, diameter, and mass flux, as revealed by standalone ARM profilers. Observations are obtained under the umbrella of the ACRF scanning radar facilities that will provide additional insight and guidance for storm intensity, hydrometeor contributions to fall speed and storm translational motion.