Analyzing Doppler Radar

Question

This activity will help you meet these educational goals:
You will collect data to answer scientific questions or test design solutions under a range of conditions.

Directions
Read the instructions for this self-checked activity. Type in your response to each question, and check your answers. At the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work.
Activity
Visit the National Weather Service website, and click the area where you live. (If you are using a mobile device, click the squares beneath the main map.) The colored bar gives the intensity of rainfall in increasing order. The image below will help you interpret the amount of rain expected in your location. The intensity of energy (Z) reflected back to the Doppler radar is measured in decibels and expressed as dBZ. The color scale is included with each map on the website.

the legend for the colors used in weather maps indicating precipitation intensity from very light to extreme

Part A
What does the Doppler radar show happening around your town or a town of your choice right now?

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Part B
Look outside. What kind of weather can you see? Does it match the Doppler radar data?

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Part C
Large patches of color indicate widespread precipitation. Over which areas does precipitation seem to be the most widespread?

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Part D
Precipitation that appears as a line indicates a weather front. Can you locate an obvious front? If so, where is it located? Which direction is the front moving?

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Part E
If an area is in the 50+ dBZ range, what atmospheric pressure conditions could the area be experiencing?

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Self-Evaluation
How did you do? Rate your work on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. Then write a brief evaluation of your work below. Note what you learned and what challenged you.

Location:TUCSON ARIZONA

Answer 1

Part A

Currently, the Doppler radar shows moderate rainfall occurring around Tucson, Arizona. Various shades of green and yellow on the radar indicate that rain is falling in scattered areas, but no extreme precipitation is observed in the immediate vicinity.

Part B

Looking outside, the weather is overcast with light to moderate rain falling intermittently. This observation matches the Doppler radar data, which indicated moderate precipitation in the area, confirming that the radar accurately reflects current conditions.

Part C

Precipitation seems to be most widespread to the east and north of Tucson. The Doppler radar indicates large patches of green and yellow, suggesting that these areas are receiving continuous rainfall, while Tucson itself is experiencing lighter precipitation.

Part D

An obvious weather front is located just to the east of Tucson, as indicated by a line of heavier precipitation extending north-south. This front appears to be moving towards the east, suggesting an incoming system that might bring additional rain.

Part E

If an area is in the 50+ dBZ range, it could be experiencing low atmospheric pressure conditions, which are often associated with stormy weather. Such conditions can lead to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, or even severe weather phenomena, indicating that a strong weather system is in the vicinity.

Self-Evaluation

I would rate my work a 4 out of 5. I effectively observed and reported the conditions in Tucson based on the Doppler radar data and real-time observations. I learned how to interpret the radar colors and connect them to actual weather conditions. One challenge I faced was understanding the significance of the dBZ values in relation to atmospheric pressure. In future tasks, I aim to deepen my understanding of weather systems and improve my ability to anticipate weather changes based on radar information.