Midtroposphere Wind Speed Spectra from Long-Term Wind Profiler Measurements

A. S. Frisch NOAA/ERL/Wave Propagation Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by A. S. Frisch in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
B. B. Stankov NOAA/ERL/Wave Propagation Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by B. B. Stankov in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
B. E. Martner NOAA/ERL/Wave Propagation Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by B. E. Martner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
J. C. Kaimal NOAA/ERL/Wave Propagation Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by J. C. Kaimal in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Full access

Abstract

This study of a 5-yr continuous record of midtropospheric horizontal wind components from a radar wind profiler operating at Fleming, Colorado, shows a broad spectral peak centered around a period of 1 week and a minimum at about 4 months, in addition to the expected 1-yr peak. However, when the records are separated according to seasons, the pattern becomes more complicated, with several distinct peaks and clear differences between the summer and winter behavior emerging. In this paper the different spectral patterns observed are presented and the synoptic-scale features in the weather that could produce them are speculated on.

Abstract

This study of a 5-yr continuous record of midtropospheric horizontal wind components from a radar wind profiler operating at Fleming, Colorado, shows a broad spectral peak centered around a period of 1 week and a minimum at about 4 months, in addition to the expected 1-yr peak. However, when the records are separated according to seasons, the pattern becomes more complicated, with several distinct peaks and clear differences between the summer and winter behavior emerging. In this paper the different spectral patterns observed are presented and the synoptic-scale features in the weather that could produce them are speculated on.

Save