Base Reflectivity

High resolution, color images showing precipitation location and intensity for each of the lowest four tilts in the WSR-88D volume scan.

Features:

A high resolution, color image for each of the antenna's lowest four tilt angles

Generated in precipitation and clear air modes

16 levels of reflectivity data vs. 6 levels from conventional radar

230km effective range of the radar scan

1km x 1 data resolution

4 (tilts) elevation angles:

Precipitation Mode  Clear Air Mode    
+0.50 degrees       +0.50 degrees     
+1.45 +2.40 +3.35   +1.50 +2.50       
                    +3.50

These elevation angles are planned for most NIDS sites. However, it is possible that the elevation angles used at some locations with unique geography will differ.

Benefits:

Helps determine where rain and snow is falling

Identifies dry air weather phenomena in clear air mode (sea breeze fronts, gust fronts, and dry lines)

Better sensitivity than conventional radar results in detection of lighter intensity precipitation (light snow, light rain, and drizzle)

Notes maximum reflectivity on legend

Key Beneficiaries:

All users

Operational meteorologists

Applications:

Precipitation detection and tracking

Mesoscale forecasting