Search Results

You are looking at 1 - 2 of 2 items for :

  • Author or Editor: James L. Franklin x
  • Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology x
  • Refine by Access: Content accessible to me x
Clear All Modify Search
James L. Franklin
and
Paul R. Julian

Abstract

The major sources of error in Omega-derived wind estimates are examined and illustrated. Sample dropwindsondes and local Omega signals are used to illustrate the effects of several types of phase propagation anomalies. A stationary test sonde and synthetic Omega phases are used to determine the accuracy of three Omega phase-smoothing algorithms and their associated error estimates and to determine the impact of base station motion for sondes released from aircraft.

Omega windfinding errors can be classified as either “internal” or ”external” errors. Internal errors are associated with signal quality and transmitter-sonde geometry, while external errors are caused by anomalous phase propagation. Estimates of wind error (wind uncertainties) are provided by the equations of Omega windfinding. These uncertainties, however, estimate only the effects of internal errors. Precise assessment of errors caused by anomalous phase propagation requires the measurement of phase data by a stationary receiver. Such measurements show that errors from external sources range from about 1 m s−1 for diurnal changes in ionospheric height to 20–30 m s−1 for sudden ionospheric disturbances. Methods for dealing with these problems in sonde postprocessing are described.

Data from a stationary test sonde show that the effect of aircraft maneuvers on real-time Omega wind estimates is substantial; during turns, errors in real-time wind estimates increase by over 50%. The comparison of phase-smoothing algorithms shows that cubic-spline smoothing produces wind estimates 20–50% more accurate than those obtained with other methods. Hence, it is recommended that this smoothing algorithm be used in dropwindsonde postprocessing. It is estimated that such postprocessing will reduce errors by 60% during aircraft turns and by 30% at other times.

Full access
James L. Franklin
,
Katsuyuki V. Ooyama
, and
Stephen J. Lord

Abstract

A one-dimensional local spline smoothing technique is applied to Omega navigational signals for the purpose of windfinding. Wind profiles so produced depend largely on two parameters of the smoothing procedure: the nodal spacing, which determines the smallest resolvable scale, and a filtering wavelength, which produces the necessary smoothing of the phase data, and prevents representational distortion of any power from the unresolved scales. Phase “noise” from stationary test sondes is superimposed on synthetic Omega signals to compare wind profiles obtained with this new procedure with profiles computed using other techniques.

Is it shown that the effect of aircraft maneuvers on Omega wind accuracy is not completely removed by the normal practice of evaluating all phase derivatives at a common time. Additional improvements in accuracy of 2–3 m s−1 can be obtained by a “rate-aiding” technique using aircraft navigational data.

Full access