21st Conf. on Severe Local Storms

P5.3

Virtual Radar Volumes: Creation, Algorithm Access, and Visualization

Richard Jason Lynn, NOAA/NWS/NCEP/SPC and CIMMS/Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; and V. Lakshmanan

We describe the concept of constantly updating volumetric data from a single radar source. Current methods of radar volume construction aggregate recent radar elevation scans, iteratively proceeding from lower elevation angles to higher elevation angles, all of which are confined to the same volume scan. In a time-centric system, such as WDSS-II, the restraint of constructing volumetric products within the same volume scan is eliminated, allowing the aggregation of the most recent product at all levels. This "virtual volume" consists of the latest data available at all elevation angles, facilitating four-dimensional navigation through the volumetric radar data, during storm interrogation.

In this paper, we discuss the methods by which virtual volume products are constructed, updated, and visualized within the WDSS-II environment. We also discuss several advantages gained by using virtual volume products, as opposed to the conventional volume product from WATADS, or AWIPS.

extended abstract  Extended Abstract (124K)

Poster Session 5, Multi-sensor Severe Weather Applications
Tuesday, 13 August 2002, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM

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