Weather radar echo tops forecast generation

US7391358B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• William Dupree · Westborough, US
• Marilyn Wolfson · Acton, US
• Richard J. Johnson · Colville, US
• Robert Boldi · Sudbury, US
• Paul E. Bieringer · Arlington, US
• Kim T. Calden · Milford, US
• Carol Wilson · Acton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2006
• Grant date: Jun 24, 2008
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02A90/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.