JPH0743463A - Observed-information processor of weather radar - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a observed-information processor of a weather radar, which can automatically identify a precipitation region and can objectively recognize the identify of the precipitations obtained in each observation, which are updated from time to time. CONSTITUTION:Precipitation regions are sequentially identified for every observation with a precipitation-region identifying part 1. The representative position is computed for each precipitation region with a representative-position computing part 2. The representative position at the next observation is predicted based on the representative positions in the past precipitation regions with a representative-position predicting part 3. The correlation between both position is observed with a correlation processing part 4. Thus, whether the identified precipitation region is the same region as the previous precipitation or not is automatically judged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for obtaining a precipitation area from echo information obtained by a weather radar for each observation, and more particularly to automation of a process of determining the identity of the precipitation area obtained for each observation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been attempted to construct a system that uses a weather radar to detect the growth of a thundercloud, predict the occurrence of lightning, and issue an alarm. However, the observation information processing of such a weather radar still depends on the analysis processing capability of the operator. That is, the observation information of the weather radar is generally CAPPI (constant altitude PPI: plan positioni
ndicator) method, and the operator is PP
The I indicator is monitored to determine the identity of the precipitation echo displayed for each radar observation, and the temporal changes in echo intensity and altitude are followed.

By the way, in the above-mentioned observation information processing, it is essential to identify the precipitation area and to judge the identity of the updated precipitation area. However, the observation information is enormous for the operator to analyze and it is updated in a short time in the radar observation period. Therefore, it takes much skill to judge precipitation echoes such as thunderclouds in time series. Or, the judgment tends to be ambiguous.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional weather radar observation information processing apparatus, there are many aspects that still depend on the operator's judgment. It required skill to judge the identity, and the judgment tended to be ambiguous.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to automatically identify a precipitation area and objectively determine the identity of the precipitation area which is updated from time to time. An object is to provide an observation information processing device for radar.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an observation information processing apparatus of a weather radar according to the present invention extracts a precipitation echo component from echo information obtained by each observation by the weather radar, and the precipitation echo component is extracted. A precipitation area identifying means for identifying a precipitation area extending from the component in the distance direction and the height direction, a representative position calculating means for calculating a representative position of the precipitation area identified by the precipitation area identifying means for each observation, and this means. The representative position predicting means for predicting the representative position at the next observation based on the obtained representative position at the past observation, and the representative position calculated by the representative position calculating means for each observation by the representative position predicting means. Correlation processing means for determining whether or not to fall within a fixed range centered on the predicted representative position,
When it is determined by the correlation processing means that the precipitation area enters, it is determined that the precipitation area obtained in the previous observation is a moved area.

[0007]

In the meteorological radar observation information processing apparatus having the above structure, the precipitation area identifying means sequentially identifies the precipitation area for each observation, and the representative position calculating means calculates the representative position for each precipitation area. Then, the representative position predicting means predicts the representative position at the time of the next observation from the representative position in the past precipitation area, and the correlation processing means looks at the correlation between the two, so that the identified precipitation area is the same as the previous precipitation area. It is automatically determined whether or not it is.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the processing functions of the observation information processing apparatus according to the present invention. Since the hardware configuration can be realized by a general-purpose computer, its description is omitted here.

In FIG. 1, echo information obtained for each observation by the observation radar is sent to the precipitation area identifying section 1. The precipitation area identification unit 1 extracts a precipitation echo component from the input echo information, applies the intensity data of the precipitation echo component to a plurality of observation meshes provided for each altitude, and the intensity value of each observation mesh is a reference value. By specifying the above range, the precipitation area spreading in the distance direction and the height direction is identified.

The precipitation area information obtained here is sent to the representative position calculating section 2. The representative position calculation unit 2 calculates the center of gravity position as a representative position for each precipitation region identified by the precipitation region identification unit 1 for each observation.

The representative position information obtained here is sequentially sent to the representative position predicting section 3. The representative position predicting unit 3 accumulates a predetermined number of past representative positions for each precipitation region, and predicts the representative position for the next observation from the representative position for the past several observations for each precipitation region. For this prediction α-β
Tracking processing is applicable.

The representative position prediction information obtained here is sent to the correlation processing unit 4. The correlation processing unit 4 is a comparison calculation unit 4
1 and the determination processing unit 42. The comparison calculation unit 41 obtains the distance between the calculated representative position and the predicted representative position, and compares it with the allowable specified value. If the comparison result is less than the allowable specified value, the determination processing unit 42 determines that the correlation has been obtained, and if the comparison result is greater than the allowable specified value, it determines that the correlation has not been obtained.

That is, the correlation processing unit 4 determines whether or not the representative position calculated by the representative position calculating unit 2 in the latest observation falls within a certain range around the representative position predicted by the representative position predicting unit 3. If it is determined that the precipitation area falls within the range, it is determined for each observation that the precipitation area is a movement of the precipitation area obtained in the previous observation.

With the above configuration, the processing content will be described with reference to FIG. For simplicity of explanation, the description will focus on the precipitation region at one altitude. Now, at times t1, t2, ..., Ti, clouds (precipitation regions) A1, A2, ..., Ai change their shapes as shown in FIG. 2 and move. When the observation information is input from the meteorological radar, the precipitation area identifying unit 1 first identifies the precipitation areas A1, A2, ... Based on the echo intensity at each time, and the representative position calculating unit 2 identifies the gravity center position G1 for each precipitation area. , G2, ..., Gi are calculated.

When the barycentric position in the specified number of precipitation regions is obtained, the representative position prediction unit 3 performs α (position) -β (speed) tracking processing based on the specified number of representative positions in the past, and the next observation time. Predict the representative position Gi 'at.

Here, the predicted representative position G at time ti
It is assumed that i ′, and the calculated representative position of the identified precipitation area Ai is Gi. The correlation processing unit 4 assumes a circle having an allowable radius R centered on the representative position Gi 'predicted by the representative position predicting unit 3, and determines whether the calculated representative position Gi falls within the circle. Then, when it is determined that it falls within the range (correlation exists), the precipitation area Ai is ti-1 at the time of the previous observation.
It is determined that the precipitation area Ai-1 obtained in the above step has moved.

On the other hand, when the calculated representative position does not fall within the circle (no correlation), the precipitation area Ai is determined to be a different area from the precipitation area Ai-1 at the time of the previous observation, and the area Ai is determined.
From now on, new area identification will be performed.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus having the above-described configuration can automatically identify the precipitation area and objectively determine the identity of the precipitation area, which is updated every moment. As a result, the analysis processing capability of the operator becomes unnecessary, and precipitation echoes such as thunderclouds are automatically extracted from the huge amount of observation information that is updated in a short time in the radar observation cycle.
This makes it possible to make a time-series and objective judgment, which can greatly contribute to the construction of a system for predicting lightning and issuing an alarm.

In the above embodiment, the representative position is not limited to the barycentric position, but may be the strongest rainfall amount in the precipitation region, the mesh position having the maximum water content, or the like. Further, the representative position prediction is not limited to the α-β tracking process, but can be realized by a pattern matching process, although the accuracy is somewhat lowered. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the observation information of the weather radar is capable of automatically identifying the precipitation area and objectively determining the identity of the precipitation area which is updated from time to time. A processing device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus for a weather radar according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the processing content of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Precipitation area identification part, 2 ... Representative position calculation part, 3 ... Representative position prediction part, 4 ... Correlation processing part, 41 ... Comparison calculation part, 42 ...
Judgment processing unit.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Narumi Ishikawa 1 Komukai-shiba-cho, Kouki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Stock company Toshiba Komukai factory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A precipitation area identifying means for extracting a precipitation echo component from echo information obtained for each observation by a meteorological radar, and identifying a precipitation area extending in a distance direction and a height direction from the precipitation echo component, and for each observation. Representative position calculation means for calculating a representative position of the precipitation area identified by the precipitation area identification means, and a representative for predicting a representative position for the next observation based on the representative position for the past observation obtained by this means Position prediction means, and correlation processing means for determining whether or not the representative position calculated by the representative position calculation means for each observation falls within a certain range centered on the representative position predicted by the representative position prediction means The meteorological data observation is characterized in that when the correlation processing means determines that the precipitation area enters, the precipitation area is determined to be a movement of the precipitation area obtained in the previous observation. Information processing equipment. 2. The meteorological radar observation information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the representative position calculating means calculates a center of gravity position of the precipitation region. 3. The meteorological radar observation information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said representative position calculating means is adapted to calculate the strongest rainfall amount position in said precipitation area. 4. The representative position predicting means predicts a representative position at the next observation by performing α-β tracking processing on the representative positions at a plurality of past observations. Item 1. The meteorological radar observation information processing device according to Item 1. 5. The representative position predicting means predicts a representative position at the next observation by performing pattern matching processing on the representative positions at a plurality of past observations. Observation information processing device of the described weather radar.