Performance of windshear/microburst detection algorithms using numerical weather prediction model data for selected tropical cyclone cases

Abstract

Three windshear/microburst detection algorithms are used operationally at the Hong Kong International Airport. Their performance is studied in the present article by assuming the availability of the complete set of meteorological data from numerical weather prediction model output. Only selected tropical cyclone cases are considered. The performance is evaluated using pilot reports of windshear. It turns out that the glide path scan windshear detection algorithm has the best overall performance by considering the area under curve using the relative operating characteristic curves. This may be related to the better geometry in covering the glide paths of the airport for this particular algorithm.