Windshear detection by Terminal Doppler Weather Radar during Tropical Cyclone Mujigae in 2015

Located at the southeastern coast of Guangdong Province of China, Hong Kong is susceptible to the effects of severe convective weather and tropical cyclones. The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is susceptible to windshear and microbursts caused by convective weather. Due to the complex terrain around the HKIA, windshear caused by strong winds of tropical cyclones across complex terrain can be as strong as microbursts generated by thunderstorms. A Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) has been used to detect microbursts and windshear in real time to safeguard aviation safety. The TDWR at Brothers Point, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, was optimized to detect windshear and microbursts in a highly cluttered environment. Stationary and moving clutters were suppressed and radar velocity data were dealiased by the hybrid multiple pulse repetition interval method during radar system optimization. A case on October 4, 2015 showed that the TDWR performed satisfactorily with a probability of detection and a false alarm ratio of 91% and 1% respectively in detecting microbursts by comparing microburst features identified by the TDWR and human truth, which is a method to identify areas of interest by analysts.