Meteorological Research Enabled by Rapid-Scan Radar Technology

The scientific community has long acknowledged the importance of high-temporal-resolution radar observations to advance science research and improve high-impact weather prediction. Development of innovative rapid-scan radar techno-logies over the past two decades has enabled radar volume scans of 10-60 s compared to 3-5 min with traditional parabolic dish research radars and the WSR-88D radar network. This review examines the impact of rapid-scan radar technology, defined as radars collecting volume scans in 1 min or less, on atmospheric science research spanning different subdisciplines and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the use of rapid-scan radars. In particular, a significant body of literature has accumulated for tornado and severe thunderstorm research and forecasting applications, in addition to a growing number of studies of convec-tion. Convection research has benefited substantially from more synchronous vertical views, but could benefit more substantially by leveraging multi-Doppler wind retrievals and complementary in situ and remote sensors. In addition, several years of forecast evaluation studies are synthesized from radar testbed experiments, and the benefits of assimilating rapid-scan radar observations are analyzed. Although the current body of literature reflects the considerable utility of rapid-scan radars to science research, a weakness is that limited advancements in understanding of the physical mechanisms behind observed features have been en-abled. There is considerable opportunity to bridge the gap in physical understanding with the current technology using coordi-nated efforts to include rapid-scan radars in field campaigns and expanding the breadth of meteorological phenomena studied.