Uses of radar in meteorology

Abstract

This article briefly surveys the wide variety of applications of radar in meteorology. Microwave radars are used to provide information about the distribution, type and intensity of precipitation in the atmosphere and about wind patterns and turbulence. VHF and UHF radars are used to provide wind profiles. Advances in information technology are enabling the information derived from radars to be processed and made available to users in a timely and convenient fashion. The detailed patterns of precipitation-intensity given by networks of radars are proving to be valuable to weather forecasters and hydrologists alike. Doppler radar enables tornadoes to be detected and aviation will be able to benefit from the detection of other hazardous wind conditions, such as wind shear and microbursts. For the research meteorologist, Doppler radar provides one of the best tools for measuring detailed 3-D fields of air motion within convective storms and frontal weather systems as well as within the planetary boundary layer.