A survey of deep convection updraft core signatures in C- and S-band polarimetric radar fields during MC3E

Polarimetric C- and S-band radar data obtained during the the Midlatitude Continental Convective Cloud Experiment (MC3E) are analyzed to identify the variability of polarimetric radar signatures associated with deep convection updraft cores. In particular, the life cycle of core-region signatures in differential reflectivity, specific differential phase, and cross-correlation coefficient are characterized and how these features covary with collocated regions of high radar reflectivity (Zhh) is described. Preliminary results indicate that MC3E convective cells display a range of polarimetric radar signatures indicative of differing microphysical behavior regimes. Understanding this diversity of microphysical behavior may then be used to improve understanding and modeling of deep convection updraft core microphysical processes.