Abstract |
A detailed analysis of gain-stepped WSR-57 radar data shows that warm season precipitation patterns over the southern basin of Lake Michigan (based on areal echo frequency distributions) are on the whole unaffected by the presence of a large cold water body. While precipitation echo frequencies associated with air mass shower activity are 13% lower over the lake compared to those over the land portion of the basin, air mass precipitation accounts for less than 10% of all warm season precipitation over the lake portion of the southern Lake Michigan basin. However, when radar echoes for all warm season precipitation types, e.g., cold front, squall line, and overrunning are investigated, overlake echo counts are slightly greater than land echo counts for comparative land and lake test areas. |