The signature of mid-latitude convection observed by MST radar.

For MST radars operating at mid-latitudes, the magnitude of radial velocities observed by a vertically directed beam (henceforth referred to as vertical velocities) is typically no more than the order of 0.1 m s. Occasional periods characterised by magnitudes of the order of 1 m s are usually associated with mountain wave activity. Convective events are recognised to be a source of even more significant vertical velocity activity at equatorial latitudes, where the magnitudes can be of the order of 10 m s (Jain et al., 2000). However, mid-latitude convection has received relatively little attention. The aim of the current study is to establish the characteristics of convection as observed by the UK Natural Environment Research Council MST radar at Aberystwyth (52.4°N). It will be shown that these are not just of scientific interest but have consequences for data reliability.