Cloud type identification for a landfalling typhoon based on millimeter-wave radar range-height-indicator data

As a basic property of cloud,accurate identification of cloud type is useful in forecasting the evolution of landfalling typhoons.Millimeter-wave cloud radar is an important means of identifying cloud type.Here,we develop a fuzzy logic algorithm that depends on radar range-height-indicator(RHI)data and takes into account the fundamental physical features of different cloud types.The algorithm is applied to a ground-based Ka-band millimeter-wave cloud radar.The input parameters of the algorithm include average reflectivity factor intensity,ellipse long axis orientation,cloud base height,cloud thickness,presence/absence of precipitation,ratio of horizontal extent to vertical extent,maximum echo intensity,and standard variance of intensities.The identified cloud types are stratus(St),stratocumulus(Sc),cumulus(Cu),cumulonimbus(Cb),nimbostratus(Ns),altostratus(As),altocumulus(Ac)and high cloud.The cloud types identified using the algorithm are in good agreement with those identified by a human observer.As a case study,the algorithm was applied to typhoon Khanun(1720),which made landfall in south-eastern China in October 2017.Sequential identification results from the algorithm clearly reflected changes in cloud type and provided indicative information for forecasting of the typhoon.