Storm Chasing Utah Style

Photo: Rachel Humphrey

I have just received word from the National Science Foundation that we've been approved to use the Center for Severe Weather Research Doppler on Wheels Mobile radar in northern Utah from Late October through Thanksgiving.

This is a one of a kind platform that we'll be using for student education and outreach, and hopefully getting some good data on orographic, frontal, and lake-effect storms.  We had two Doppler on Wheels here in February 2000 for the IPEX field program and got great data on precipitation enhancement upstream of the northern Wasatch Mountains.  This time, we'll only have one, but it is a polarimetric radar, which will allow us to take a closer look at hydrometeor shape and type during winter storms.

Details to come.  Let's hope Mother Nature brings the goods!