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Answer to Question 5 |
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Question 5. Examine the reflectivity feature that moves from Grady, McClain, and Cleveland counties at
3:30 p.m. to Pontotoc and Murray counties at 5:30 p.m. What happens to this feature? Does it
strengthen, weaken, dissipate, or does something else happen to it?
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Answer. The thin line that appears on the reflectivity image is caused by the reflection of the radar beam when it encounters a discontinuity in air density. This density gradient is caused by the front that separates warm (less dense) air from cool (more dense) air. As the front moves toward the southeast, the reflectivity echoes appear to weaken. Although the echoes weaken, the front likely remains strong (see Mesonet data). The weakening echoes are due to the radar overshooting the front as it moves away from the radar. | |
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