Figure 4-14.-Large-scale sample time-liner (Isochrones show advance of precipitation field).
Use of Doppler Radar in Cloud and
Precipitation Forecasting
Doppler radar is very useful in determining weather
phenomena approaching your station and estimating the
probability of precipitation at your station, Refer to
chapter 12 of this manual and the F e d e r al
Meteorological Handbook No. 11, Part B, for
information on analysis of weather conditions and
Doppler radar theory.
CLOUD ANALYSIS AND
FORECASTING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Recognize upper
air data and its value in forecasting. Recognize
moisture features aloft and their significance to
the forecaster.
Forecasters are frequently called upon to make
forecasts of clouds over areas where synoptic
observations are not readily available, or over areas
where clouds above the lowest layer are obscured by a
lower cloud deck. This section is designed to acquaint
the forecaster with the principles of detection and
analysis of clouds from rawinsonde data. A complete
discussion of this problem is beyond the scope of this
training manual. Further information on this subject
may be found in the practical training publication, Use
of the Skew T Log P Diagram in Analysis and
Forecasting, NAVAIR 50-1P-5.
IMPORTANCE OF RAWINSONDE
OBSERVATIONS (RAOB) IN CLOUD
ANALYSIS
Cloud observations regularly available to
forecasters in surface synoptic reports leave much to be
desired as a basis for cloud forecasting.
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