Standardization of Dual-Doppler Radar-Derived Wind Fields during a Hurricane Landfall

A new methodology for standardizing radar-derived elevated dual-Doppler (DD)-synthesized wind maps to the near surface is presented, leveraging the spatial variability found within the horizontal wind speed fi elds. The methodology is applied to a dataset collected by Texas Tech University (TTU) using two TTUKa-band mobile radar systems during the landfall of Hurricane Delta (2020) in coastal Louisiana. Relevant portions of the DD wind fi elds are extracted from multiple heights between 100 and 400 m above ground level, combined into 10-min segments and standardized to a reference height of 10 m and an open exposure roughness length of 0.03 m. Extractions from these standardized wind fi elds are compared and validated against the standardized wind measurements from a micronet of seven TTU StickNet platforms providing "ground truth" within the DD analysis domain. The validation efforts confirm fi rm the developed DD wind fi eld standardization methodology yields robust results with correlation coefficients fi cients greater than 0.88 and mean biases less than 1%. The results of this study provide a new means for incorporating elevated DD radar data into new and existing surface wind fi eld analysis systems geared toward generating a wind fi eld of record during a hurricane landfall. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This work presents a new methodology for using radar-generated wind fi elds during a hurricane landfall to support the construction of a surface wind fi eld analysis. Because radar-based wind measurements are inherently elevated above the surface and because the wind conditions well above the ground do not directly translate to the wind conditions experienced at the ground, a method for standardizing the elevated radar wind fi elds to the surface provides tremendous value to generating a spatially continuous wind fi eld of record during a hurricane landfall event to better inform event response and recovery efforts. In addition, the need for detailed wind fi elds of record from landfalling hurricanes that approach structural design limits is critical as a single design-level storm can alter building code return period analysis. Detailed wind fi elds for these high-impact events can directly inform associated updates in building codes ultimately contributing to a more resilient built environment.