Topographic influences on Amarillo radar echo climatology

Date
1980-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas Tech University
Abstract

A radar climatology within 185 km (100 nm) surrounding Amarillo, Texas, has been assembled for the spring convective season (May and June) from 1975 through 1978. The objective has been to obtain significant evidence supporting the importance of the Caprock escarpment in initiating convection. Included is a data extraction technique that accounts, in part, for range bias effects. Conditions favoring convection were identified in terms of synoptic patterns and use of daily sounding data from Amarillo. Semi-quantitative correlations of initial echo occurrences with topographic roughness has revealed four potential source regions favorable for convective development.

Description
Keywords
Texas -- Climate, Convection (Meteorology), Climatology, Radar meteorology, Physical geography -- Texas -- Amarillo Region
Citation