A comparative analysis of two wind velocity retrieval techniques by using a single Doppler radar

Abstract

This study compares the theoretical basis of the two wind velocity retrieval methods, Velocity Azimuth Display (VAD) and Velocity Area Display (VARD) by using data obtained by a single Doppler radar. Two pre-assumed shapes of the wind velocity distribution with altitude are considered, uniform and parabolic. The former presents an approximation of the non-sheared or low-sheared wind flow in the upper troposphere, while the latter is a simplified representation of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) in lower troposphere or high-sheared wind flow at the edges of the tropospheric jet streams. Both techniques for the wind velocity retrieval considered in this study are reformulated in order to get more precise information on the wind velocity components. An algorithm is proposed to decrease the uncertainty in retrieving by evaluating the coefficients of the polynomial equation and applying a transfer function with respect to the angle formed between the wind flow direction and direction of radar beam. It is concluded that, provided the formulated transformation functions are used, the application of the VAD and VARD techniques to the single-Doppler data may be an invaluable tool for solving various climate and wind engineering problems.