The Relationship between Height and Precipitation Characteristics of Summertime Convective Cells in South Florida

Abstract

Radar volume scan studies employed two radars simultaneously to measure heights and other echo characteristics of convective cells. Maps produced from the date were used to identify and track cells, whose properties were then related to one another by regression analysis, with the following conclusions: 1) Cell rainfall and area are strongly related. 2) Rainfall intensity, maximum precipitation area, duration and rate of precipitation, and total rain volume are strongly dependent on cell-echo height. Equations defining these relationships are shown to take the form of power laws. 3) Times taken for cells to attain maximum lifetime properties are shown to be interrelated and to be proportional to other basic properties of the cells.