Simulations of Polarimetric, X-Band Radar Signatures in Supercells. Part I: Description of Experiment and Simulated ρhv Rings

AbstractWith the development of multimoment bulk microphysical schemes and polarimetric radar forward operators, one can better examine convective storms simulated in high-resolution numerical models from a simulated polarimetric radar perspective. Subsequently, relationships between observable and unobservable quantities can be examined that may provide useful information about storm intensity and organization that otherwise would be difficult to obtain. This paper, Part I of a two-part sequence, describes the bulk microphysics scheme, polarimetric radar forward operator, and numerical model configuration used to simulate supercells in eight idealized, horizontally homogenous environments with different wind profiles. The microphysical structure and evolution of copolar cross-correlation coefficient (ρhv) rings associated with simulated supercells are examined in Part I, whereas Part II examines ZDR columns, ZDR rings, and KDP columns. In both papers, some systematic differences between the signature see...

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