Wind speeds in two tornadic storms and a tornado, deduced from Doppler Spectra

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1980)019<1405:WSITTS>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6773423

Zrnic, D; Istok, M

Doppler spectra of a tornado were collected with a radar having a large unambiguous velocity range, +- 91 m s/sup -1/. Thus for the first time a presentation of nonaliased spectra was possible, showing direct measurement of radial velocities. By fitting the tornado model spectrum to data, the radius of maximum winds and tornado center location are deduced. Tornado spectral signature is defined as a double peak, symmetric with respect to the mean wind spectrum. Histograms of maximum measured wind speeds (from spectrum skirts) for two tornadic storms are obtained, and the histograms of velocity difference (between the left and right spectrum skirt) suggest that smaller scale turbulence (<500 m) is principally responsible for spectrum broadness.

• Research Organization: National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma 73069
• OSTI ID: 6773423
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States) Vol. 19:12; ISSN JAMOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500000* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DATA
DISASTERS
DOPPLER EFFECT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUMERICAL DATA
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
STORMS
TORNADOES
VELOCITY
WIND