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Many interesting radar research topics

• Doppler spectra of Tornadoes (Zrnic)#
• Collaboration with NASA’s airborne Doppler lidar (1981)—a precursor for wind measurements from space.
• Solar eclipse and cloud effects on Clear Air PBL reflectivity (Bob Rabin)
• Explanation of the “Hail Signature” (Zrnic)
• Radar studies of lightning (Vlad Mazur)
• Studies of atmospheric waves

Notes:
This is a small sample of some of the interesting research projects that many might not know about because they were of tangential interest to NSSL’s main mission of severe storm research in support of the NWS. NSSL helped NASA in confirming the performance of their Doppler lidar which was being developed for observations of wind from space. The solar eclipse and cloud cover effects on reflectivity opens the question as to whether there is a relation between PBL reflectivity and surface fluxes. The hail signature was an artifact observed for many years by radar meteorologists, but there was never a correct theory for its presence until Dusan provided the correct explanantion. Radar Studies of lightning started in the 1970s with the arrival of Vlad Mazur from Russia; Atmospheric waves include Solitary waves, undular bores, and convective rolls.