Mobile, polarimetric Doppler radar observations of supercell hook echoes during VORTEX2

Recent observations of precipitation properties in supercells have been used to propose a distribution of approximated DSDs in hook echoes in which drop sizes tend to decrease moving from the inner edge to the backside of the hook echo. All of the hook echoes were examined using data from S- and C-band stationary Doppler radars. In this study, data obtained in 2009-2010 during VORTEX2 (and select cases in 2011-2012) by NSSL's NOXP mobile Doppler radar were used to estimate DSDs in several additional cases of supercell hook echoes. This study expands on past work by: 1) increasing the current number of hook echo cases (small) that have been investigated, including tornadic and non-tornadic cases, and hook echoes of varying appearance in reflectivity, 2) using increased spatial resolution polarimetric data to provide a more detailed look at the distribution of estimated raindrop sizes, particularly in any transition zones, and 3) using increased temporal resolution data to investigate the evolution of estimated DSDs during important storm processes, particularly tornadogenesis (7 June 2009 and 7 June & 11 June 2010). Comparisons will be made with past polarimetric observations of hook echoes and an emphasis will be placed on any observed differences between tornadic and non-tornadic hook echoes.