2002 Annual

Wednesday, 16 January 2002: 1:45 PM
AWIPS local application for visualizing WSR-88D PPS hybrid scan bin heights
Steven V. Vasiloff, NOAA/NSSL, Norman, Oklahoma
Poster PDF (1.4 MB)
A tool for visualizing WSR-88D precipitation processing system (PPS) hybrid scan bin (HSBs) heights is described. Each radar has a reference file that tells the PPS which of the lowest four elevation angles to use in areas of beam blockage. Written in Perl using the Tk module, the AWIPS radar application (ARAP) provides a graphical user interface that allows the user to enter a reference level, such as the 0 C height, and displays the HSB heights relative to that level. Other features of ARAP include text and graphical examples of how to interpret the images, display of HSB heights from multiple radars, and readout of azimuth, range and height. The application is intended primarily for use in determining accuracy of precipitation estimates in stratiform storms. However, ARAP can be used to evaluate convective storms as well. ARAP is currently available on the AWIPS local application data base.

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