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Radar Coded Message Composite Image with Tops Help
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The display is an image representation of the Nexrad radar reflectivity overlayed with cloud tops and centroid movement.
The Nexrad Radar Coded Message (RCM) product originates as an automated text
message generated at each NWS radar site and transmitted over the AFOS communications
network. The RCM reflectivity data has spatial resolution of about 12 km and is updated
every 30 minutes. The RCM was intended as a replacement for the Manually Digitized Radar
(MDR) product which has been used for years as the input to the NWS Radar Summary
graphic available over fax and other circuits. The raw RCM has considerable false
echoes, so it is hourly by the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) before being
formatted as an MDR in the autoROB product transmitted over AFOS. The autoROB is now
used as the input for the NWS Radar Summary chart. The editing of the RCM at the AWC is
an automated process that checks the RCM for meteorological validity when compared to
current satellite images, synoptic conditions, neighboring radar sites, and lightning.
The displayed image is the edited reflectivity. The RCM includes the max top for each
radar's area of coverage. The other tops shown on the display are derived from the
satellite images at the centers of convective activity. Movements shown are the radar
centroid movements as generated by the Nexrad processor.
The images are updated twice hourly and are posted at HH:15 and HH:45.
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