1000's ft
LWX: Sterling VA (38.98N 96.23W)
04/20/00 01:15 UTC
Max: 11 kts/198 deg @ 5000 ft
| RMS |
| 0 |
| 4 |
| 8 |
| 12 |
| 16 |
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VAD detection of Birds
Because NEXRAD can measure the radial velocity at different elevations it can also estimate the direction and magnitude of velocities at different elevations. NEXRAD's designers had hoped that it could replace the weather balloon to measure upper air winds. However, active fliers such as birds, bats and some insects can bias the magnitude and even the direction of velocity measured by NEXRAD
| Velocity Azimuth Display showing birds taking off in calm winds | ||||||||
| Altitude 1000's ft |
VAD Wind Profile : VCP 21 LWX: Sterling VA (38.98N 96.23W) 04/20/00 01:15 UTC Max: 11 kts/198 deg @ 5000 ft |
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Different colored wind flags indicate the Root Mean Square (RMS) error of velocities at each altitude. A wind flag may indicate a high speed, but many reflectors at that altitude may be moving in the opposite direction or with lower speeds, increasing the RMS. A wind flag colored purple indicates high variability of directions at a given altitude, while a flag colored green indicates very low variability of directions.