Accession Number:

AD0711794

Title:

HOOK ECHOES ON RADAR

Descriptive Note:

Technical note

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS CENTER SCOTT AFB IL

Personal Author(s):

• Stryker, John W.

Report Date:

1970-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

17.0

Abstract:

A great amount has been published on both tornado activity and hook echoes on radar. This paper discusses one popular tornado theory and explains the existence of the hook echo on radar. The tornado model used is that developed by the late Dr. Fred Bates. On the basis of the tornado theory, a steady-state storm develops with a rotating updraft at the center of the storm. The potential for tornadic development is on the convergent or windward side of the cell. The hook echo as viewed on radar, while not assumed to be the tornado itself, has an extremely high correlation with tornado occurrence or funnel cloud sightings. The question posed then is What is this hook echo and how is it associated with the tornadic vortex. By using the model in the Bates Theory, a satisfactory conclusion can be derived.

Descriptors:

• *METEOROLOGICAL RADAR
• *RADAR CROSS SECTIONS
• *TORNADOES
• INTENSITY
• VORTICES
• ATTENUATION
• PATTERN RECOGNITION

Subject Categories:

• Meteorology
• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE