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Topography and Land-Cover Effects on Tornado Intensity using Rapid-Scan Mobile Radar Observations and Geographic Information Systems

McGinnis, Nathaniel L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1471459517

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Geography (Arts and Sciences).
High spatio-temporal datasets collected by two rapid-scan, mobile, Doppler radars (the University of Oklahoma’s rapid-scan, X-band, polarimetric (RaXPol) radar and the Naval Post-Graduate School’s Mobile Weather Radar 2005 X-Band Phased Array (MWR-05XP)) are used to investigate the relationships between tornado intensity and land cover type. Through the application of Geographic Information System techniques, elevation, slope, and aspect values are derived using the United States Geological Survey’s Digital Elevation Model. Additionally, surface roughness values are extracted using land-cover data from the USGS National Land-Cover Database and surface roughness values from the Environmental Protection Agency AERSURFACE User’s Guide. The extracted topographic and surface roughness values are then compared to the intensity values (Delta Vmax) obtained through radar analysis. Linear correlations, comparison of means, and multiple linear regression techniques are used to test the significance of the data in order to determine the possible relationships between tornado intensity and topography/land-cover. While significant statistical relationships are found using these techniques, the relationships do not favor a specific direction and often reversed between cases. However, based upon the results from the multiple linear regression it is hypothesized that the radar beam height was a strong predictor of tornado intensity for these particular cases, which implies that over all of the topographic and land-cover variables, the tornado intensity observed was significantly influenced by the location of the radar’s lowest-level beam height. Nevertheless, several unique topography/land-cover features did appear to affect tornado intensity, encouraging the continued investigation of the potential relationships, despite the contradicting statistical relationships found here.
Jana Houser (Advisor)
Ryan Fogt (Committee Member)
James Lein (Committee Member)
214 p.
Geographic Information Science; Geography; Meteorology
tornadoes; tornado intensity; topography; elevation; land-cover; surface roughness; rapid-scan radar

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McGinnis, N. L. (2016). Topography and Land-Cover Effects on Tornado Intensity using Rapid-Scan Mobile Radar Observations and Geographic Information Systems [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1471459517

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McGinnis, Nathaniel. Topography and Land-Cover Effects on Tornado Intensity using Rapid-Scan Mobile Radar Observations and Geographic Information Systems . 2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1471459517.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McGinnis, Nathaniel. "Topography and Land-Cover Effects on Tornado Intensity using Rapid-Scan Mobile Radar Observations and Geographic Information Systems ." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1471459517

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1471459517
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.