Weather radar echo tops forecast generation
First Claim
1. A method for generating a short-term forecast of echo tops, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving a plurality of echo tops images each generated for a different time;
(b) determining an echo tops growth rate for a pixel in one of the echo tops images in response to a value of the pixel in the respective echo tops image and a value of a respective pixel in at least one of the other echo tops images;
(c) determining an echo tops maximum value for the pixel; and
(d) generating an echo tops predicted value for the pixel in response to the one of the echo tops images, the echo tops growth rate and the echo tops maximum value.
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Abstract
Described are a method and a system for generating a short-term forecast of echo tops as defined by weather radar measurements. The method includes receiving echo tops images for different times. An echo tops growth rate and an echo tops maximum value are determined for pixels in one of the images and used to generate echo tops prediction values for an echo tops prediction image. For pixels in regions of the image determined to be subject to convective initiation but where convective weather does not exist, an echo tops initiation height and the echo tops maximum value are determined and used with a predicted precipitation value to generate an echo tops prediction value for each pixel.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for generating a short-term forecast of echo tops, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a plurality of echo tops images each generated for a different time;
(b) determining an echo tops growth rate for a pixel in one of the echo tops images in response to a value of the pixel in the respective echo tops image and a value of a respective pixel in at least one of the other echo tops images;
(c) determining an echo tops maximum value for the pixel; and
(d) generating an echo tops predicted value for the pixel in response to the one of the echo tops images, the echo tops growth rate and the echo tops maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for generating a short-term forecast of echo tops, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving an echo tops image;
(b) determining an echo tops initiation height for a pixel in a convective initiation region of the echo tops image;
(c) determining an echo tops maximum value for the pixel; and
(d) generating an echo tops prediction value for the pixel in response to the echo tops initiation height, the echo tops maximum value and a predicted precipitation value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for generating a short-term forecast of echo tops comprising:
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an echo tops image processor configured to receive an echo tops image and to determine echo tops maximum values for the echo tops image;
a tracker module for receiving a plurality of weather radar images and generating an array of tracking vectors in response thereto;
an advection module in communication with the tracker module and configured to receive the weather radar images, the advection module applying the array of tracking vectors to one of the weather radar images to generate a weather radar prediction image; and
a forecast application module in communication with the echo tops image processor and the advection module, the forecast application module generating an echo tops prediction image in response to the weather radar prediction image, the echo tops image and the echo tops maximum values. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of providing weather radar data and echo tops data to a user, the method comprising:
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determining a weather radar prediction image in response to a plurality of weather radar images, each weather radar image being representative of a value of a meteorological parameter at a geographical location at a different time;
determining an echo tops prediction image in response to a plurality of echo tops images; and
generating a combined prediction image by replacing the value of the meteorological parameter for a pixel in the weather radar prediction image with a value of a respective pixel in the echo tops prediction image if the value of the meteorological parameter exceeds a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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- 24. A method of providing weather radar data and echo tops data to a user, the method comprising displaying a combined prediction image indicating a value of a meteorological parameter as a function of location for a geographical area where the value of the meteorological parameter does not exceed a threshold value and indicating an echo tops value for each location where the value of the meteorological parameter exceeds the threshold value.
Specification