"Current Detection Paradigm" - On Bob Fritchie's Site

The automated detection of tornadoes and other hazardous weather events involves using algorithms to identify patterns in "raw" Doppler radar reflectivity and velocity data. One such algorithm-based system is the NSSL Warning Decision Support System - Integrated Information (WDSS-II)

One major limitation is that new detection algorithms must be created, or existing ones adapted, each time a new observation system is deployed. A tornado/parent mesocyclone will look very different when viewed by a WSR-88D with a gate size of 1km, as supposed to a Mobile doppler radar with a gate size of 50m.

Another major limitation is that such algorithms operate principally on data directly measured by the radar (radial velocity and reflectivity) and thus do not make use of other important fields that are potentially available to them (e.g., pressure and temperature).

These figures illustrate some of the capabilities of the WDSS-II system developed by the National Severe Storms Laboratory.

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