WSR-88D Sidelobe Contamination: From a Conceptual Model to Diagnostic Strategies for Improving NWS Warning Performance

Abstract

Abstract Providing timely warnings for severe and potentially tornadic convection is a critical component of the NWS mission, and owing to the associated large reflectivity gradients, sidelobe contamination is possible. This paper focuses on elevation sidelobe contamination appearing in the low-level inflow region of supercells. A qualitative conceptual model of the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) antenna pattern interacting with supercells is introduced, along with Doppler power spectrum representations of the potential mix of returned power from the main lobe and the sidelobes. These tools inform the multiple ways elevation sidelobe contamination appears in the low levels, primarily below 3 km (10 kft) of radar data. The most common manifestation is somewhat noisy data similar to particulates or biota in clear air. Trained NWS forecasters are accustomed to mentally filtering out noisy clear-air returns as less important. Elevation sidelobe contamination can be mixed with the three-body scatter spike (TBSS) artifact, though the TBSS remains the more salient feature. The most consequential form is the apparent circulation, and when it is incorrectly interpreted as valid, contributes to the false alarm ratio (FAR) for NWS tornado warnings. Quantitative results on the effect of elevation sidelobe contamination on FAR are presented. Diagnostic techniques are emphasized, and with familiarization, can be used in real-time warning operations to identify the apparent circulation as either valid or an imposter. Identification of these contaminated velocity signatures offers a unique opportunity to reduce the NWS tornado warning FAR without also reducing the probability of detection (POD). Significance Statement The WSR-88D weather radars provide overall high-quality data for users. However, with some severe thunderstorms, an artifact called elevation sidelobe contamination can produce what looks like a rotation signature, but it may not be real. These ambiguous velocity signatures can contribute to tornado warnings based on rotation signatures that are false circulations. This paper specifically focuses on elevation sidelobe contamination due to its impact on tornado warning decisions. Diagnostic techniques, including several examples, are presented here to aid the reader in correctly identifying elevation sidelobe contamination and why it may occur. Correct identification of an apparent circulation as an imposter due to contamination is a unique opportunity to improve NWS tornado warning performance by reducing warning false alarms.