Evaluating vertical velocity retrievals from vertical vorticity equation constrained dual-Doppler analysis of real, rapid-scan radar data

Abstract Accurate vertical velocity retrieval from dual-Doppler analysis (DDA) is a longstanding problem of radar meteorology. Typical radar scanning strategies poorly observe the vertical component of motion, leading to large uncertainty in vertical velocity estimates. Using a vertical vorticity equation constraint in addition to a mass conservation constraint in DDA has shown promise in improving vertical velocity retrievals. However, observation system simulation experiments (OSSEs) suggest this technique requires rapid radar volume scans to realize the improvements due to the vorticity tendency term in the vertical vorticity constraint. Here, the vertical vorticity constraint DDA is tested with real, rapid-scan radar data to validate prior OSSEs results. Generally, the vertical vorticity constraint DDA produced more accurate vertical velocities from DDAs than those that did not use the constraint. When the time between volume scans was greater than 30 seconds, the vertical velocity accuracy was significantly affected by the vorticity tendency estimation method. A technique that uses advection correction on provisional DDA wind fields to shorten the discretization interval for the vorticity tendency calculation improved the vertical velocity retrievals for longer times between volume scans. The skill of these DDAs was similar to those using a shorter time between volume scans. These improvements were due to increased accuracy of the vertical vorticity tendency using the advection correction technique. The real radar data tests also revealed that the vertical vorticity constraint DDAs are more forgiving to radar data errors. These results suggest that vertical vorticity constraint DDA with rapid-scan radars should be prioritized for kinematic analyses.