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Forecasting Lightning Initiation Utilizing Dual-Polarization Radar Parameters Over Washington, D.C., Sarah A. Olsen
Forecasting Lightning Initiation Utilizing Dual-Polarization Radar Parameters Over Washington, D.C., Sarah A. Olsen
Theses and Dissertations
Accurate forecasts of thunderstorms are vital to space launch, aviation, and public safety. Prior studies by Woodard (2011), Thurmond (2014), and Travis (2015) show that dual-polarization radar can be utilized to identify the presence of hydrometeors necessary for cloud charging. These studies emphasized that a combination of radar reflectivity (Z) and differential reflectivity (ZDR) predictors have the potential to improve forecast skill of lightning initiation over methods that rely on Z alone (Roeder and Pinder, 1998; Yang and King, 2010). Travis (2015) discovered two parameters, when used together, produced the best results: Z ≥ 36.5 dBZ and ZDR …