Study On 3D Visualization Techniques Of Weather Radar Data

Weather radar can make a 3D (Three Dimensions) detection of precipitation systems, and visually display the development of precipitation system with 3D vector of radar echo, which help to advance the analysis on weather processes. In this paper, some 3D visualization techniques of weather radar data have been studied, and then a 3D display system of radar data has been developed, which can realize the functions of 3D display and analysis of radar data. The main results are as follows:(1) The standard atmospheric refraction and the real effect of earth curvature on the radar detection has been discussed. The algorithm was improved to electromagnetic wave refraction curve along the rail communication, which can give the three-dimensional space positioning method of the radar volume scan data. By comparing with the standard radar altimetry formula, the calculation results show that using the method proposed in this paper to calculate the altitude, latitude and longitude of target, the result will be more reasonable and accurate.(2) The vertical profile products algorithm of radar data has been developed, which can design how to calculate the data point of the value orientation and realize interpolation method on the given profile. The results of the calculation of echo intensity, the spatial location, spatial continuity and so on can be seen that the method can reasonable display the radar echo profile information.(3) Marching Cubes algorithm of 3D isosurface extraction technology has been studied, which use the hexahedron computing unit of radar volume scan data to replace the cube unit. The algorithm can improve the reconstruction speed without losing the drawing quality, continuous and intuitively show the outline and the internal structure of the distribution of radar echo.(4) The design of the radar data 3D display system can realize the function of GIS (Geographic Information System), terrain mapping, radar data 3D analysis. Through a convective weather example analysis, demonstrates the evolution process of precipitation system. The display results show that 3D visualization technology has contributed to a more detailed analysis of distribution and development of radar echo.