LAB #4 - RADAR INTERPRETATION ALONG THE FRONT RANGE OF CO

Lab Overview:

This is a lab intended to give you more experience interpreting radar data. You will be looking at data from 15 July, 1998 from the Denver, CO radar along the front range. Here is a map of the area we are looking at

To begin the lab, do the following:

• open a shell
• type in the following command: 
  • source /mnt/arch/cases/15jul98/Gemenviron.15jul98
  • then launch garp

Now, for each of the following time periods, use all available data (radar reflectivity, radial velocities, satellite, surface, and upper air) to answer the following questions.  Make sure that you effectively combined data sets to best understand the meteorological phenomena observed in the data.

Time periods:

• 14-16 UTC
• 16-18 UTC
• 18-20 UTC
• 20-22 UTC
• 22-24 UTC

1. Describe the character and evolution of any thin lines.
2. Describe the character and evolution of any convective development
3. What is the ambient flow direction in the boundary layer?
4. Do you see any bad data in either the reflectivity or Doppler velocities?
5. Meteorologically, what's going on?

As you answer these questions, please provide physical explanations supporting your discussion.  So, for example, if for question #1 you see a thin line start moving to the west, provide a physical explanation for why it is moving to the west.  If in questions #2 you see convection initiating, provide a physical mechanism that explains, or could explain, where and when the convection is being generated.  Back up your answers with some discussion of what you are seeing other data sets besides just the radar data.

Place the answers to these questions and annotated graphics in a ppt file.