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Paul R. Lowe

Abstract

A procedure for computing saturation vapor by means of a polynomial approximation is presented and evaluated against other methods currently in use. The polynomial procedure is demonstrated to be highly accurate and more economic of computational time requirements than other procedures.

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Thomas J. Perrone
and
Paul R. Lowe

Abstract

A statistical forecasting experiment was performed to test the capability of predictors derived from observational data (analysis) fields at 950, 700, 500 and 200 mb to forecast tropical storm formation (genesis). National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration tropical mosaic visible satellite images and the Joint (United States Navy and Air Force) Typhoon Warning Center's Post-Season Best Track analyses of tropical storms were used to select a representative collection of tropical cloud clusters, some of which became tropical storms (GO cases), others of which did not (NO GO cases). Navy Fleet Numerical Oceanography Central archived analysis fields of surface pressure, winds, sea surface temperature, and moisture were accessed at locations and times corresponding to cloud cluster positions 24, 48 and 72 hours prior to tropical storm formation/nonformation, and candidate predictors were formed from these analysis data. The number of predictor candidates was increased by also calculating a predictor candidate's Laplacian, and the magnitude of its gradient. A Special local-maximum enhancement technique was also applied to some of the candidate predictors. Stepwise discriminant analysis was applied to these candidate predictors to select subsets with greatest predictive capability for forecasting tropical storm formation at projections of 24,48 and 72 hours. The resulting statistical forecast algorithms were evaluated on independent data, against climatology, and against a basic technique derived solely from latitude and longitude. The results show our forecast technique possesses considerable skill in predicting tropical storm formation with good pre-figurance, post-agreement, threat, and Brier scores.

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David B. Johnson
,
Edward H. Barker
, and
Paul R. Lowe

Abstract

A two-dimensional axially symmetric computer model was used to study downwash-induced fog clearings. In order to produce a clearing the helicopter downwash must reach the ground while the helicopter hovers at or above the top of the fog. The major factors affecting the size and penetration of the downwash are the strength of the helicopter and the buoyancy of the downwash. The clearing can be enlarged beyond the size of the primary downwash by surface-induced divergence and by mixing of dry air into the fog.

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