The Use of Radar Imagery in Climatological Research. Resource Paper No. 21.

Intended to supplement undergraduate college geography courses, this resource paper investigates the need and use of radar in weather phenomena research. Radar can be used to study weather phenomena over a wide area, thus improving the results of statistical analyses previously limited by inadequate data. Radar techniques are also useful for probing small area weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms, which may occur between existing climatological stations. Most radar studies of a climatological nature have concerned the distribution of rain showers or the determination of rainfall amounts in inaccessible areas. Studies of this type are reviewed, as well as potential areas for further investigation. A case study is presented in which radar is used to examine the effect of air-mass convective rainfall on average maximum air temperatures. This study shows how radar data may enhance the results of conventional statistical analyses of climatological variables. (Author/MLH)