Question Relating Radar Velocities

[L.B. LaForce]

I understand green radar velocities are inbound (going towards the radar), and red radar velocities are outbound (going away from the radar). What I would like to know is what the green and red represent, if any? what is considered the inflow (warm moist air) or the outflow (cold air)? OR is this not able to be told from radar velocity?

Thanks

 

[Bill Schintler]

RE: Radar velocities

I understand green radar velocities are inbound (going towards the radar), and red radar velocities are outbound (going away from the radar).

That's true - the colors represent velocity relative to the radar site, and not temperature or moisture. For example, storm inflow could be represented by green OR red, depending on the orientation of the storm to the radar site.

- bill

 

[Jeff Duda]

The velocity shown on radar is the radial component of the velocity at that location. That's all the velocity product truly shows. Without having some kind of temperature and moisture data to supplement the velocity data (such as mesonet data), it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine if the given winds at a location are truly inflow or outflow winds from a thunderstorm or whatever.

However, if you know the dynamics of certain storm types, such as supercells, then you can be able to estimate pretty accurately what a certain type of flow will be. Look for boundaries in the velocity field. That'll show you where a change of air mass may be occurring, and since cold air displaces warm air, you can usually get a sense for what type of flow you're looking at.

 

[L.B. LaForce]

Alright, thanks. I thought maybe boundaries would be the only way.