Monitoring, quantification and nowcasting of precipitation in the State of São Paulo

• Grant number: 01/14095-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - São Paulo State Integrated Hydrometeorology System - Sihesp
• Start date: January 01, 2005
• End date: June 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Gerhard Held
• Grantee: Gerhard Held
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Meteorológicas (IPMET). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The upgrading of the existing signal processing and software of both Doppler radars will allow real-time new products to be deployed for monitoring and quantification of precipitation, as well as for severe weather warnings. Studies to determine preferential areas of initiation and development of convection will be based on Doppler radar information complemented by data from a Sodar with RASS capacity. Radiosonde data analysis will play an important role in the establishment of the thermodynamic structure of severe and non-severe storms in the State of São Paulo. Z-R relationships will be established initially for both Bauru and Presidente Prudente radars for the dry (April - September) and rainy (October -March) periods. The range effect will be studied analytically and experimentally, focusing on two range intervals, the first one up to 240 km range to where operational rainfall quantification is presently performed and the second one from 240 to 450 km, the maximum operational range, a ring where presently only a qualitative assessment of rain intensity is done. (AU)