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- Author or Editor: K. P. Moran x
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Abstract
Temperature measurements made with a 50-MHz wind profiler equipped with a radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) are compared with radiosonde observations (raobs) during a 5-week period in the fall of 1991. The accuracy of the RASS temperature measurements corrected for vertical air motion is reported. Measurements made during a period when vertical air motion was observed showed a mean improvement of 0.7°C after correction. The rms differences between the RASS observations and the raobs showed improvement at all the measurement heights when the correction for vertical air motion was made. The accuracy for all the observations is reported to be 0.9°C. The remaining differences in the temperature are compared with a model of RASS errors induced by horizontal winds and turbulence.
Abstract
Temperature measurements made with a 50-MHz wind profiler equipped with a radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) are compared with radiosonde observations (raobs) during a 5-week period in the fall of 1991. The accuracy of the RASS temperature measurements corrected for vertical air motion is reported. Measurements made during a period when vertical air motion was observed showed a mean improvement of 0.7°C after correction. The rms differences between the RASS observations and the raobs showed improvement at all the measurement heights when the correction for vertical air motion was made. The accuracy for all the observations is reported to be 0.9°C. The remaining differences in the temperature are compared with a model of RASS errors induced by horizontal winds and turbulence.
Abstract
Improved radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) technology for use with radar wind profilers has been developed and applied to 915-MHz and 50-MHz profilers. The most important advance is the simultaneous measurement of the wind velocity to correct the acoustic velocity measurement for air motion. This eliminates the primary source of error in previous RASS measurements, especially on short time scales. Another improvement is the use of an acoustic source that is controlled by the same computer that controls the radar. The source can be programmed to produce either a swept frequency or a random hopped frequency signal. Optimum choices of the acoustic source parameters are explored for particular applications. Simultaneous measurement of acoustic and wind velocity enables the calculation of heat flux by eddy correlation. Preliminary heat flux measurements are presented and discussed. Results of the use of RASS with oblique beams are also reported.
Abstract
Improved radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) technology for use with radar wind profilers has been developed and applied to 915-MHz and 50-MHz profilers. The most important advance is the simultaneous measurement of the wind velocity to correct the acoustic velocity measurement for air motion. This eliminates the primary source of error in previous RASS measurements, especially on short time scales. Another improvement is the use of an acoustic source that is controlled by the same computer that controls the radar. The source can be programmed to produce either a swept frequency or a random hopped frequency signal. Optimum choices of the acoustic source parameters are explored for particular applications. Simultaneous measurement of acoustic and wind velocity enables the calculation of heat flux by eddy correlation. Preliminary heat flux measurements are presented and discussed. Results of the use of RASS with oblique beams are also reported.
Abstract
The use of ground-based clear-air Doppler radars to observe the structure of elevated atmospheric layers and associated flux quantities is described. Case studies in which radar and balloon data were available are analyzed. Doppler second-moment (velocity variance) data are used to calculate turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate ε. Velocity variance, refractive index structure parameter and wind shear are used to estimate the refractive index gradient across elevated weather-frontal interfaces. A case is analyzed in which both acoustic-sounder and radar-sounder data are available, so profiles of structure parameter of both temperature and humidity can be deduced and used to calculate the fluxes of heat and moisture within the frontal interface. The fluxes deduced from radar data are compared with corresponding in situ measurements made by aircraft in other geographical regions. The relationship between the turbulent Prandtl number and the Richardson number emerges as very important to the generalization of the technique to the whole stable atmosphere.
Abstract
The use of ground-based clear-air Doppler radars to observe the structure of elevated atmospheric layers and associated flux quantities is described. Case studies in which radar and balloon data were available are analyzed. Doppler second-moment (velocity variance) data are used to calculate turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate ε. Velocity variance, refractive index structure parameter and wind shear are used to estimate the refractive index gradient across elevated weather-frontal interfaces. A case is analyzed in which both acoustic-sounder and radar-sounder data are available, so profiles of structure parameter of both temperature and humidity can be deduced and used to calculate the fluxes of heat and moisture within the frontal interface. The fluxes deduced from radar data are compared with corresponding in situ measurements made by aircraft in other geographical regions. The relationship between the turbulent Prandtl number and the Richardson number emerges as very important to the generalization of the technique to the whole stable atmosphere.
Abstract
Single- and dual-source models of the surface energy transfer across the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interface were used in conjunction with remotely sensed surface temperature for computing the surface energy balance over heterogeneous surfaces. Both models are relatively simple so that only a few parameters are specified, making them potentially useful for computing surface fluxes with operational satellite observations. The models were tested with datasets collected from a semiarid rangeland environment with canopy cover generally less than 50% and a subhumid tallgrass prairie environment having canopy cover typically greater than 50%. For the semiarid site, differences between the single-source and dual-source model estimates of the sensible heat flux (H) and the observations averaged about 25%. For the tallgrass prairie, the disagreement between observations and single-source model estimates of H was significantly larger, averaging nearly 55%. The average difference between observations and the dual-source model predictions for the tallgrass prairie site increased slightly from the semiarid site to 30%. The latent heat flux (LE) was determined by residual from measurements of net radiation and model estimates of the soil heat flux. For the semiarid site, the single-source model estimates of LE differed on average with the observations by about 15%, whereas the LE values computed by the dual-source model differed by about 20%. For the tallgrass prairie site, the LE values from the single-source model differed from the observations by almost 35%, on average, whereas the dual-source model estimates produced an average difference of about 20%. Given the fact that energy flux observations by various techniques have been found to differ by at least 20%, the single-source model performed satisfactorily for the semiarid site but had difficulty reproducing the fluxes at the tallgrass prairie site. The dual-source model, however, performed reasonably well at both sites. To obtain results comparable to the dual-source model for the tallgrass prairie site, the single-source model required significant modifications to a parameter used in estimating the roughness length for heat.
Abstract
Single- and dual-source models of the surface energy transfer across the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interface were used in conjunction with remotely sensed surface temperature for computing the surface energy balance over heterogeneous surfaces. Both models are relatively simple so that only a few parameters are specified, making them potentially useful for computing surface fluxes with operational satellite observations. The models were tested with datasets collected from a semiarid rangeland environment with canopy cover generally less than 50% and a subhumid tallgrass prairie environment having canopy cover typically greater than 50%. For the semiarid site, differences between the single-source and dual-source model estimates of the sensible heat flux (H) and the observations averaged about 25%. For the tallgrass prairie, the disagreement between observations and single-source model estimates of H was significantly larger, averaging nearly 55%. The average difference between observations and the dual-source model predictions for the tallgrass prairie site increased slightly from the semiarid site to 30%. The latent heat flux (LE) was determined by residual from measurements of net radiation and model estimates of the soil heat flux. For the semiarid site, the single-source model estimates of LE differed on average with the observations by about 15%, whereas the LE values computed by the dual-source model differed by about 20%. For the tallgrass prairie site, the LE values from the single-source model differed from the observations by almost 35%, on average, whereas the dual-source model estimates produced an average difference of about 20%. Given the fact that energy flux observations by various techniques have been found to differ by at least 20%, the single-source model performed satisfactorily for the semiarid site but had difficulty reproducing the fluxes at the tallgrass prairie site. The dual-source model, however, performed reasonably well at both sites. To obtain results comparable to the dual-source model for the tallgrass prairie site, the single-source model required significant modifications to a parameter used in estimating the roughness length for heat.
Abstract
A network of 31 radar wind profilers is being installed in the central United States by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The radars are expected to measure the vertical profile of horizontal and vertical wind starting at 500 m above the surface (AGL) and extending to about 16 km AGL. These 404.37-MHz radars can also be adapted to measure virtual temperature profiles in the lower troposphere by the radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) technique. RASS experiments were conducted using the prototype radar of the NOAA network, and results showed that virtual temperature profiles can be measured starting at 500 m AGL (the lowest height observed with this radar) and extending to 3.5–5.2 km AGL.
Abstract
A network of 31 radar wind profilers is being installed in the central United States by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The radars are expected to measure the vertical profile of horizontal and vertical wind starting at 500 m above the surface (AGL) and extending to about 16 km AGL. These 404.37-MHz radars can also be adapted to measure virtual temperature profiles in the lower troposphere by the radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) technique. RASS experiments were conducted using the prototype radar of the NOAA network, and results showed that virtual temperature profiles can be measured starting at 500 m AGL (the lowest height observed with this radar) and extending to 3.5–5.2 km AGL.
Abstract
The maximum height performance of the 50, 405 nd 915 MHz Colorado wind profiles is computed from the wind profiler database. Results show that even though the 50 MHz profiler has the largest seasonal variation in the maximum height coverage, it also has the greatest height coverage. In addition, it also has a greater increase in height for the same increase in sensitivity. On the basis of thew measurements we predict the height coverage of the 405 MHz wind profiler for the proposed wind profiler network.
Abstract
The maximum height performance of the 50, 405 nd 915 MHz Colorado wind profiles is computed from the wind profiler database. Results show that even though the 50 MHz profiler has the largest seasonal variation in the maximum height coverage, it also has the greatest height coverage. In addition, it also has a greater increase in height for the same increase in sensitivity. On the basis of thew measurements we predict the height coverage of the 405 MHz wind profiler for the proposed wind profiler network.
A new radar technique for measuring winds in the lower atmosphere is discussed. It is an extension of the well-known FM-CW technique and has the same advantages of relatively low cost and high flexibility for a clear-air radar. Two different types of wind data from clear-air returns are presented. The first is horizontal wind data by the FM-CW radar; these are compared with winds obtained from a tethered balloon. The second is radial velocities associated with convection cells drifting past the radar. Also, two types of data processing are illustrated. The first is off-line processing of recorded digital data, and the second is real-time processing using a commercial spectrum analyzer.
A new radar technique for measuring winds in the lower atmosphere is discussed. It is an extension of the well-known FM-CW technique and has the same advantages of relatively low cost and high flexibility for a clear-air radar. Two different types of wind data from clear-air returns are presented. The first is horizontal wind data by the FM-CW radar; these are compared with winds obtained from a tethered balloon. The second is radial velocities associated with convection cells drifting past the radar. Also, two types of data processing are illustrated. The first is off-line processing of recorded digital data, and the second is real-time processing using a commercial spectrum analyzer.
Abstract
Remote sensing instrumentation has advanced to the point where serious consideration is being given to a next-generation tropospheric sounding system that uses radars and radiometers to provide profiles of tropospheric variables continuously and automatically. A network of five wind-profiling radars has been constructed in Colorado. This network represents a significant step in the development of a new observing system for operational and research meteorology. The radars and their capabilities and limitations are described.
Abstract
Remote sensing instrumentation has advanced to the point where serious consideration is being given to a next-generation tropospheric sounding system that uses radars and radiometers to provide profiles of tropospheric variables continuously and automatically. A network of five wind-profiling radars has been constructed in Colorado. This network represents a significant step in the development of a new observing system for operational and research meteorology. The radars and their capabilities and limitations are described.
Abstract
An experiment comparing balloon and profiler observations was carried out to evaluate the capability of Doppler radar wind profilers to remotely measure useful meteorological quantities other than wind. The site chosen was in Southern California during a time of year when it offers a natural laboratory for investigating extreme contrasts in temperature and humidity. To evaluate the new capabilities, it was found that new and additional treatment of the radar data was necessary. For example, the adequacy of the usual radar wind observations obtained by editing the Doppler spectral moments was found to be very questionable for short-term observations, so the authors extended the editing to the raw spectra, and substantial improvement was found. The advantages of the redundancy in five-beam systems are investigated and are also found to be very necessary to obtain the accuracy needed. A technique for minimizing the variances of the differences of the four redundant pairs of radials is described. The resulting improved vertical velocity estimates substantially improve the agreement between radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) temperature retrievals and balloon-measured temperatures. The ability of the profilers to measure turbulence intensity was tested, and the accuracy of techniques using the spectral width to measure turbulent dissipation rate when complicated spectra are present is examined. Two different techniques for optimizing the calculation of spectral width are compared and the errors assessed. One technique integrates over the uncontaminated range of the chosen spectral peak and then extrapolates a Gaussian function to infinity. The other method uses the slope of the log least squares best fit of the uncontaminated points to a Gaussian function. Profiler-measured length scales of wind and scalar quantities are measured and compared. Profiles of radar-measured gradients of refractive index are compared with gradients measured by balloon. It is shown how gradients of humidity can be calculated to about the same accuracy as refractive-index gradients by combining the temperature gradients from RASS with the refractive-index gradient observations from the radar.
Abstract
An experiment comparing balloon and profiler observations was carried out to evaluate the capability of Doppler radar wind profilers to remotely measure useful meteorological quantities other than wind. The site chosen was in Southern California during a time of year when it offers a natural laboratory for investigating extreme contrasts in temperature and humidity. To evaluate the new capabilities, it was found that new and additional treatment of the radar data was necessary. For example, the adequacy of the usual radar wind observations obtained by editing the Doppler spectral moments was found to be very questionable for short-term observations, so the authors extended the editing to the raw spectra, and substantial improvement was found. The advantages of the redundancy in five-beam systems are investigated and are also found to be very necessary to obtain the accuracy needed. A technique for minimizing the variances of the differences of the four redundant pairs of radials is described. The resulting improved vertical velocity estimates substantially improve the agreement between radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) temperature retrievals and balloon-measured temperatures. The ability of the profilers to measure turbulence intensity was tested, and the accuracy of techniques using the spectral width to measure turbulent dissipation rate when complicated spectra are present is examined. Two different techniques for optimizing the calculation of spectral width are compared and the errors assessed. One technique integrates over the uncontaminated range of the chosen spectral peak and then extrapolates a Gaussian function to infinity. The other method uses the slope of the log least squares best fit of the uncontaminated points to a Gaussian function. Profiler-measured length scales of wind and scalar quantities are measured and compared. Profiles of radar-measured gradients of refractive index are compared with gradients measured by balloon. It is shown how gradients of humidity can be calculated to about the same accuracy as refractive-index gradients by combining the temperature gradients from RASS with the refractive-index gradient observations from the radar.
Abstract
Measurements of the microwave brightness temperature (TB) with the Pushbroom Microwave Radiometer (PBMR) over the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed were made on selected days during the MONSOON 90 field campaign. The PBMR is an L-band instrument (21-cm wavelength) that can provide estimates of near-surface soil moisture over a variety of surfaces. Aircraft observations in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths collected on selected days also were used to compute a vegetation index. Continuous micrometeorological measurements and daily soil moisture samples were obtained at eight locations during the experimental period. Two sites were instrumented with time domain reflectometry probes to monitor the soil moisture profile. The fraction of available energy used for evapotranspiration was computed by taking the ratio of latent heat flux (LE) to the sum of net radiation (Rn) and soil heat flux (G). This ratio is commonly called the evaporative fraction (EF) and normally varies between 0 and 1 under daytime convective conditions with minimal advection. A wide range of environmental conditions existed during the field campaign, resulting in average EF values for the study area varying from 0.4 to 0.8 and values of TB ranging from 220 to 280 K. Comparison between measured TB and EF for the eight locations showed an inverse relationship with a significant correlation (r 2 = 0.69). Other days were included in the analysis by estimating TB with the soil moisture data. Because transpiration from the vegetation is more strongly coupled to root zone soil moisture, significant scatter in this relationship existed at high values of TB or dry near-surface soil moisture conditions. It caused a substantial reduction in the correlation with r 2 = 0.40 or only 40% of the variation in EF being explained by TB. The variation in EF under dry near-surface soil moisture conditions was correlated to the amount of vegetation cover estimated with a remotely sensed vegetation index. These findings indicate that information obtained from optical and microwave data can be used for quantifying the energy balance of semiarid areas. The microwave data can indicate when soil evaporation is significantly contributing to EF, while the optical data is helpful for quantifying the spatial variation in EF due to the distribution of vegetation cover.
Abstract
Measurements of the microwave brightness temperature (TB) with the Pushbroom Microwave Radiometer (PBMR) over the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed were made on selected days during the MONSOON 90 field campaign. The PBMR is an L-band instrument (21-cm wavelength) that can provide estimates of near-surface soil moisture over a variety of surfaces. Aircraft observations in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths collected on selected days also were used to compute a vegetation index. Continuous micrometeorological measurements and daily soil moisture samples were obtained at eight locations during the experimental period. Two sites were instrumented with time domain reflectometry probes to monitor the soil moisture profile. The fraction of available energy used for evapotranspiration was computed by taking the ratio of latent heat flux (LE) to the sum of net radiation (Rn) and soil heat flux (G). This ratio is commonly called the evaporative fraction (EF) and normally varies between 0 and 1 under daytime convective conditions with minimal advection. A wide range of environmental conditions existed during the field campaign, resulting in average EF values for the study area varying from 0.4 to 0.8 and values of TB ranging from 220 to 280 K. Comparison between measured TB and EF for the eight locations showed an inverse relationship with a significant correlation (r 2 = 0.69). Other days were included in the analysis by estimating TB with the soil moisture data. Because transpiration from the vegetation is more strongly coupled to root zone soil moisture, significant scatter in this relationship existed at high values of TB or dry near-surface soil moisture conditions. It caused a substantial reduction in the correlation with r 2 = 0.40 or only 40% of the variation in EF being explained by TB. The variation in EF under dry near-surface soil moisture conditions was correlated to the amount of vegetation cover estimated with a remotely sensed vegetation index. These findings indicate that information obtained from optical and microwave data can be used for quantifying the energy balance of semiarid areas. The microwave data can indicate when soil evaporation is significantly contributing to EF, while the optical data is helpful for quantifying the spatial variation in EF due to the distribution of vegetation cover.
