Analysis of Atmospheric Convection in the UAE with a Scanning Doppler Cloud Radar

The Optimization of Cloud Seeding by Advanced Remote Sensing and Land Cover Modification (OCAL) experiment aims to detect convergence zones and convection initiation in the UAE. Convergence zones are possible zones of convection initiation. However, convection initiation is expressed by a variety of processes interacting on different spatial and time scale which may finally lead to deep convection. The investigation of such case over mountaneous terrain is presented in this paper. Data from the Doppler cloud radar are analyzed to determine convergence zones and convection initiation. EUMESAT 8, rain guage precipitation, weather radar and radiosonde data are also used to support the Doppler cloud radar data. The Doppler wind velocity and the Radar reflectivity inside the cloud are evaluated. A cummulonimbus cloud due to deep convection and causing convective precipitation is observed. Convergence lines and zones before precipitation are clearly observed some of which lead to ascent giving rise to cloud formation. During the summer, no precipitation reached the ground because of very low moisture content of the advecting air. During the winter, precipitation took place in some days.