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Characteristic distributions of angel echoes in the lower atmosphere and their meteorological implications

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Abstract

Analysis of a vast series of angel echo observations made by a millimetric vertically-pointing radar reveals four major types of echo organization on height-time recordings. The relationship between the formation and development of these structures and the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere is clarified. The meteorological indicator role played by angel echoes is then discussed. In particular it is shown that in certain conditions, angel echoes can delineate the boundaries of small cumulus.

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This work was sponsored by the Direction des Recherches et Moyens d'Essais, under contract 72.426 by the Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique under contract 71.72.680.

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Campistron, B. Characteristic distributions of angel echoes in the lower atmosphere and their meteorological implications. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 9, 411–426 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223391

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