Course: Radar meteorology and storm microphysics

The course will provide the most recent knowledge on the precipitation growth processes in convective storms. Special attention will be given to large hail and the environmental factors that affect its growth in supercells and other convective types. Besides large hail, we will explore the microphysics of strong downdraft-producing storms, warm-rain-driven rainstorms, and also of tornadic supercells.  Concerning tornadoes, we look at which microphysical properties of the rear-flank downdraft are most conducive to tornadoes. For each of the discussed phenomena and associated convective storm types, we look at the radar signatures that can help us identify the impending threat. Here, we highlight the usage of Doppler radar velocities and polarimetric radar signatures for different hazards. Besides discussing the recent knowledge, we address the main limitations and questions that the science has yet to answer concerning storm microphysics.

Format: 5 lectures (each morning) and 4 practical exercises (each afternoon from Mon to Thu)

Guest lecturer: Prof. Matthew R. Kumjian

Matt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Meteorology at Penn State University, where he has been since January 2014. So far at Penn State he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Radar Meteorology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics, Mesoscale Meteorology, Snow and Ice Physics, Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation Interactions, and Precipitation Physics. Prior to his arrival to Happy Valley, Matt was an Advanced Study Program Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma (2006, 2008, and 2012, respectively). Matt and his research group at PSU use dual-polarization radar observations and numerical models to study precipitation physics. He is interested in better understanding microphysical structures and processes in a variety of high-impact weather events, including hailstorms, tornadic storms, and winter storms, and how the microphysics affects the storm’s behavior and evolution. Ultimately, this will lead to an improvement in the way we parameterize these processes in numerical weather prediction models. Matt recently won an American Meteorological Society award for his contributions to advancing our understanding of precipitation physics using novel applications of dual-polarization radar.

The four afternoon exercises will deal with interesting cases of severe convection. Dr. Tomáš Púčik will conduct the exercises in cooperation with Matt: “Afternoon exercises will involve forecasting convection using past cases in small breakout groups. After the nowcasting and analysis, a discussion will follow with an emphasis on the subject that was studied during the morning”.

Lecture and exercise times: Mon 10:00 – 17:00 Tue 09:00 – 17:00 Wed 09:00 – 17:00 Thu 09:00 – 17:00 Fri 09:00 – 13:00, optional Testimonials on Fri from 14:00 to 16:00

At the end of the course you will receive a participation certificate.

Additionally, you may take an exam to obtain a Testimonial. Deadline for testimonial registration is two weeks ahead of the course.