VIL Density as a Hail Indicator VIL (Vertically Integrated Liquid) is a function of reflectivity, and converts reflectivity data into an equivalent liquid water content value based on drop-size distribution and a reflectivity factor.
Vertically integrated liquid (VIL) is an estimate of the total mass of precipitation in the clouds. The measurement is obtained by observing the reflectivity of the air which is obtained with weather radar.
Example Images Fig. 1: Vertically Integrated Liquid (VIL) for a short-lived severe thunderstorm (within white circle) over North Dakota on 21 July 2014 at 2110Z. SPC storm reports indicate 1.75-in hail was reported near the location of the cursor at approximately this time.
WHAT IS VIL (VERTICALLY INTEGRATED LIQUID)? METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY VIL was a "fad" and was most popular when the WSR-88D radar was first installed. VIL is the integration of reflectivity within a column of air. A higher VIL means there is more precipitation in a column of air.
Vertically Integrated Liquid (VIL) VIL is a NEXRAD radar estimate of the total amount of liquid precipitation water (in kg/m2 )in the atmospheric column over a given location. The amount of liquid precipitation water in a given volume can be calculated from the radar reflectivity using a so-called Z-R relation.
DESCRIPTION: Vertically Integrated Liquid, or VIL, is a calculation that converts a column of reflectivity into its liquid water equivalent. However, it turns out that VIL is seasonally and geographically correlated to hail size. GENERAL INTERPRETATION:
GR2Analyst's VIL product integrates the reflectivity vertically to estimate the liquid water content of a cell. The traditional VIL calculation caps the reflectivity values at 56 dbz in order to reduce the contribution of hail. GR2Analyst's VIL algorithm defaults to 56 dbz but is user-selectable. Here is VIL from GR2Analyst using a 56 dbz cap for the Velma, OK hailstorm: Here is the Level III ...