Thermals over the sea and gull flight behavior

The flight performance of Herring Gulls relative to specific atmosphere and ocean conditions over the western North Atlantic indicates that large groups of gulls are able, through cooperative flight maneuvers, to induce ascending convective flow (thermals) in which they make extended soaring flights. These group flights in gull-induced thermals are limited to winds of 0 to ~ 1 m s^?1 and to sea-minus-air temperature differences (δT) of ~3 to 6?C. As wind speed increases from ~ 2 to 5 m s^?1, thermals are naturally induced, and the minimum δT required for soaring is inversely related to wind speed. At higher winds (~5 to 13 ms^?1), the minimum positive δT and minimum wind speed required for thermal soaring are directly related, thus indicating an apparent maximum efficiency for the natural production of thermals at wind speeds of about 5 m s^?1 and δT of 1 to 2 ?C.     

Air–Sea Interaction Features in the Baltic Sea and at a Pacific Trade-Wind Site: An Inter-comparison Study

A systematic comparison of wind profiles and momentum exchange at a trade wind site outside Oahu, Hawaii and corresponding data from the Baltic Sea is presented. The trade wind data are to a very high degree swell dominated, whereas the Baltic Sea data include a more varied assortment of wave conditions, ranging from a pure growing sea to swell. In the trade wind region swell waves travel predominantly in the wind direction, while in the Baltic, significant cross-wind swells are also present. Showing the drag coefficient as a function of the 10-m wind speed demonstrates striking differences for unstable conditions with swell for the wind-speed range 2 m s^?1 < U ₁₀ < 7 m s^?1, where the trade-wind site drag values are significantly larger than the corresponding Baltic Sea values. In striking contrast to this disagreement, other features studied are surprisingly similar between the two sites. Thus, exactly as found previously in Baltic Sea studies during unstable conditions and swell, the wind profile in light winds (3 m s^?1) shows a wind maximum at around 7–8 m above the water, with close to constant wind speed above. Also, for slightly higher wind speeds (4 m s^?1 < U ₁₀ < 7 m s^?1), the similarity between wind profiles is striking, with a strong wind-speed increase below a height of about 7–8 m followed by a layer of virtually constant wind speed above. A consequence of these wind-profile features is that Monin–Obukhov similarity is no longer valid. At the trade-wind site this was observed to be the case even for wind speeds as high as 10 m s^?1. The turbulence kinetic energy budget was evaluated for four cases of 8–16 30- min periods at the trade-wind site, giving results that agree very well with corresponding figures from the Baltic Sea.     

Mesoscale simulations of multi-decadal variability in the wind resource over Korea

This study investigated multi-decadal variability in the wind resource over the Republic of Korea using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model. Mesoscale simulations were performed for the period from November 1981 to November 2010. The typical wind climatology over the Korean Peninsula, which is influenced by both continental and oceanic features, was represented by the physics-based mesoscale simulations. Winter had windier conditions with northwesterly flows, whereas less windy with southwesterly flows appeared in summer. The annual mean wind speeds over the Republic of Korea were approximately 2 m s^?1 with strong wind in mountainous areas, coastal areas, and islands. The multi-decadal variability in wind speed during the study period was characterized by significant increases (positive trend) over many parts of the study area, even though the various local trends appeared depending on the station locations. The longterm trend in the spatially averaged wind speed was approximately 0.002 m s^?1 yr^?1. The annual frequency of daily mean wind speeds over 5 m s^?1 at the turbine hub height also increased during the study period throughout the Republic of Korea. The present study demonstrates that multi-decadal mesoscale simulations can be useful for climatological assessment of wind energy potential.     

Comparison of three methods for determining strong wind stress over Lake Flevo

The drag coefficient C _d (10 m) at the center of shallow Lake Flevo (20-km diam) is evaluated for wind speeds u between 5 and 15 m s^?1 independently by three methods. Trivane measurements of eddy-correlation fluxes agree with eddy flux data available for moderate wind speeds from other sites, and can together be represented by C _d(10 m) = 0.0007 μ^0.3. Additional evaluations of water-surface slope give C _d(10 m) ≈ 0.0024, indicating that the stress at the water-surface level may not be entirely accounted for by eddy-correlation measurements well above the waves. Neither the eddy-correlation stress, nor the water-surface stress appears to be accurately estimable from profile measurements of wind, temperature and humidity analyzed without regard to sea state, if u > 10 m s^?1.     

Inertial oscillations near the coast of Nova Scotia during CASP

Abstract

Analysis of current, temperature and salinity records in the nearshore region of the Scotian Shelf during the Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (CASP), reveals that the inertial wave field is highly intermittent, with comparable amplitudes in the surface and deep layers. Clockwise current energy in the surface layer is concentrated at a frequency slightly below inertial, consistent with Doppler shifting by the strong mean current and/or straining by the mean flow shear, whereas the spectral peak in deep water is at the local inertial frequency. Clockwise coherence is high (γ² ≥ 0.8) horizontally over the scale of the array (60 km × 120 km) and in the vertical, with upward phase propagation rates of 0.15–0.50 × 10^?12 ms^?1, inversely proportional to the local value of the Brunt Väisälä frequency. Clockwise current energy decreases in the onshore direction and appears to be completely inhibited on the 60‐m isobath.

A case study of the response to the CASP IOP 14 storm indicates that the inertial waves may be generated by a strong wind shift propagating onshore at a speed of 10 ms^?1. On the eastern side of the array (Liscomb line), clockwise current oscillations propagate onshore in the surface layer at a rate (8.1 ± 0.9 m s^?1) comparable with the speed of the atmospheric front, while waves in the pycnocline move offshore at a lower (internal wave) speed (1.8 m s^?1). Furthermore the temperature and salinity fluctuations are in (out) of phase with longshore current in the deep (surface) layer. However, on the western side of the array (Halifax line), the inertial waves are more complex. A sharp steepening of phase lines at the coast indicates that the phase speed of clockwise current oscillations is considerably reduced and the evidence for offshore propagation of internal waves is less clear. The discrepancies between observations on the two lines suggest that the internal wave field is three‐dimensional.

Results of simple mixed‐layer models indicate that the inertial response near the surface is sensitive to the accurate definition of the local wind field, but not to certain model physics, such as the form of the decay term. The observations also show some qualitative similarities with models for two‐dimensional response to a moving front (e.g. Kundu, 1986), but the actual forcing terms are more complicated, based on IOP 14 wind measurements.     

Momentum flux of stratospheric gravity waves generated by Typhoon Ewiniar(2006)

The momentum flux of stratospheric gravity waves generated by Typhoon Ewiniar (2006) is examined using a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. In the stratosphere, zonal momentum flux with a positive sign by eastward-propagating waves is significant during the northward moving of the typhoon, while both zonal and meridional momentum fluxes with positive signs are significant during the typhoon decaying stage in which the typhoon moves northeastward. The magnitude of the momentum flux is greater during the mature stage of the typhoon than the decaying stage, and the phase speeds of the dominant momentum flux are less than 30 m s^?1 with a peak at 10–16 m s^?1. Positive momentum flux decreases with height overall in the stratosphere for both zonal and meridional components. The resultant gravity-wave drag forcing plays a role to decelerate the easterly background wind in the stratosphere. This drag forcing is relatively large above z = 40 km and below z = 20 km, and lower stratospheric wave drag is expected to affect the typhoon dynamics by modifying the background wind shear and inducing the secondary circulation in the troposphere.     

Meshless Surface Wind Speed Field Reconstruction Based on Machine Learning

We propose a novel machine learning approach to reconstruct meshless surface wind speed fields, i.e., to reconstruct the surface wind speed at any location, based on meteorological background fields and geographical information. The random forest method is selected to develop the machine learning data reconstruction model (MLDRM-RF) for wind speeds over Beijing from 2015–19. We use temporal, geospatial attribute and meteorological background field features as inputs. The wind speed field can be reconstructed at any station in the region not used in the training process to cross-validate model performance. The evaluation considers the spatial distribution of and seasonal variations in the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the reconstructed wind speed field across Beijing. The average RMSE is 1.09 m s^?1, considerably smaller than the result (1.29 m s^?1) obtained with inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation. Finally, we extract the important feature permutations by the method of mean decrease in impurity (MDI) and discuss the reasonableness of the model prediction results. MLDRM-RF is a reasonable approach with excellent potential for the improved reconstruction of historical surface wind speed fields with arbitrary grid resolutions. Such a model is needed in many wind applications, such as wind energy and aviation safety assessments.     

沙尘天气下输沙率的野外观测与分析

2014年7月—2014年8月借助风速仪、微梯度集沙仪,通过野外监测系统获取的试验数据,对塔中地区2014年7月—2014年8月沙尘天气过程中贴地层输沙率进行分析,得出:0～85 mm高度内,随着风速的增大,35～85 mm无论是绝对的输沙量还是相对的输沙量都减少。0～85 mm高度内,各层输沙率最大值均出现在风速为8 m·s-1左右,波动较为显著;最小值出现在6.5 m·s-1左右,波动不明显;沙尘天气中,输沙率最大值出现在5～15 mm高度,最小值出现在35～85 mm高度。扬沙天气中,风速9.2 m·s-1时,输沙率最大值在0～5 mm处。沙尘暴天气,拐点风速为7.5 m·s-1,7.5 m·s-1时,输沙率增加不显著,7.5 m·s-1时,输沙率增加显著。通过微梯度集沙仪获得的上述试验数据是风沙工程设计的一个极重要工程参数,具有重要的实践意义。     

A Study on Height Reassignment for the AMV Products of the FY-2C Satellite

A method for using height reassignment to improve the quality of satellite-derived atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) is presented. The rationale underlying height reassignment is explored, and the technical details are studied by applying three height reassignment schemes that use NCEP reanalysis winds. The quality of the AMVs is generally improved following reassignment, although the magnitude of the improvement differs according to the scheme applied. Scheme 3 provides the best quality and stability, followed by Scheme 1 and Scheme 2. The negative biases in the zonal components of the AMVs decrease from [-5,-4] m s-1to <-1 m s-1following reassignment. The meridional components also improve. The AMVs derived from the infrared and water vapor channels improve by 58.7% and 25%, respectively. The feasibility of using Scheme 3 in the operational derivation of AMVs is studied by incorporating the forecast wind field predicted by a T511 medium-range numerical weather prediction (NWP) system. Incorporating the 120-h forecast reduces the negative biases in zonal winds and positive biases in meridional winds retrieved from the water vapor channel, improving the overall quality of the AMVs by 26.7%. Extending the validity period of the forecast field linearly reduces the improvement in retrieved AMVs, but the magnitude of this reduction is small. Incorporating the 120-h forecast field still results in a 13% improvement, although it may eliminate a larger number of AMVs of good quality.     

Transport of Snow by the Wind: A Comparison Between Observations in Ad��lie Land, Antarctica, and Simulations Made with the Regional Climate Model MAR

For the first time a simulation of blowing snow events was validated in detail using one-month long observations (January 2010) made in Adélie Land, Antarctica. A regional climate model featuring a coupled atmosphere/blowing snow/snowpack model is forced laterally by meteorological re-analyses. The vertical grid spacing was 2 m from 2 to 20 m above the surface and the horizontal grid spacing was 5?km. The simulation was validated by comparing the occurrence of blowing snow events and other meteorological parameters at two automatic weather stations. The Nash test allowed us to compute efficiencies of the simulation. The regional climate model simulated the observed wind speed with a positive efficiency (0.69). Wind speeds higher than 12 m s ^?1 were underestimated. Positive efficiency of the simulated wind speed was a prerequisite for validating the blowing snow model. Temperatures were simulated with a slightly negative efficiency (?0.16) due to overestimation of the amplitude of the diurnal cycle during one week, probably because the cloud cover was underestimated at that location during the period concerned. Snowfall events were correctly simulated by our model, as confirmed by field reports. Because observations suggested that our instrument (an acoustic sounder) tends to overestimate the blowing snow flux, data were not sufficiently accurate to allow the complete validation of snow drift values. However, the simulation of blowing snow occurrence was in good agreement with the observations made during the first 20 days of January 2010, despite the fact that the blowing snow flux may be underestimated by the regional climate model during pure blowing snow events. We found that blowing snow occurs in Adélie Land only when the 30-min wind speed value at 2 m a.g.l. is >10 m s ^?1. The validation for the last 10 days of January 2010 was less satisfactory because of complications introduced by surface melting and refreezing.     

On the extension of the wind profile over homogeneous terrain beyond the surface boundary layer

Analysis of profiles of meteorological measurements from a 160 m high mast at the National Test Site for wind turbines at Høvsøre (Denmark) and at a 250 m high TV tower at Hamburg (Germany) shows that the wind profile based on surface-layer theory and Monin-Obukhov scaling is valid up to a height of 50–80 m. At higher levels deviations from the measurements progressively occur. For applied use an extension to the wind profile in the surface layer is formulated for the entire boundary layer, with emphasis on the lowest 200–300 m and considering only wind speeds above 3 m s^?1 at 10 m height. The friction velocity is taken to decrease linearly through the boundary layer. The wind profile length scale is composed of three component length scales. In the surface layer the first length scale is taken to increase linearly with height with a stability correction following Monin-Obukhov similarity. Above the surface layer the second length scale (L _MBL ) becomes independent of height but not of stability, and at the top of the boundary layer the third length scale is assumed to be negligible. A simple model for the combined length scale that controls the wind profile and its stability dependence is formulated by inverse summation. Based on these assumptions the wind profile for the entire boundary layer is derived. A parameterization of L _MBL is formulated using the geostrophic drag law, which relates friction velocity and geostrophic wind. The empirical parameterization of the resistance law functions A and B in the geostrophic drag law is uncertain, making it impractical. Therefore an expression for the length scale, L _MBL , for applied use is suggested, based on measurements from the two sites.     

Scattering and absorption coefficients of aerosols in a semi-arid area in China: Diurnal cycle, seasonal variability and dust events

The authors investigated variations of aerosol scattering and absorptive properties in a semi-arid climate Observatory in the Inner Mongolia of China and factors affecting the variation. They use integrated nephelometer and aethalometer observations collected in 2005 and 2006 at the Silinhot Observatory. The results are as follows. 1) in autumn and winter, the diurnal cycle of scattering coefficient exhibited a clear bi-modal variation, and the scattering coefficient was indicative of the type of sandy weather. 2) The concentration of black carbon (BC) aerosols was much higher in winter than in the other seasons with an evident bimodal diurnal variation. 3) When the wind speed was lower than 3.5 m s^?1, the dilution effect of air evidently influenced the scattering coefficient and BC mass concentration; for the wind speed above 3.5 m s^?1, there appeared to be little correlation between wind speed and scattering coefficient or BC mass concentration. 4) Atmospheric visibility calculated from the aerosol scattering and absorptive coefficients was in good agreement with the direct observation of visibility. 5) Absorption by aerosols accounted for 25% of the total extinction in December.     

A comparison of dynamic and static chambers for methane emission measurements from subarctic fens

Abstract

Methane emissions measured at three subarctic fen sites by dynamic and static chambers were compared; in the dynamic chambers, the air was circulated at a wind speed of 1.9 m s^?1. Emissions ranged from 7 to 214 mg CH₄ m^?2 d^?1 and measurements from the two types of chamber were strongly correlated (r² = 0.72), with no overall difference between the means (paired t‐test, p = 0.34) and with only 4 of the 14 comparisons showing statistically different means (t‐test, p < 0.25). The overall ratio of dynamic: static chamber fluxes was 1.24, but was highest (1.68) at the wettest, central site and lowest (0.74) at the driest, edge site. The coefficients of variation of chamber flux measurements at each site ranged from 0.13 to 1.77, with an overall average of 0.53; sampling with over 30 static chambers revealed approximately normal distributions at the edge and middle sites and a positively skewed distribution at the central site. Within both static and dynamic chambers, methane concentrations increased linearly through 24 h. These inexpensive, portable static chambers can be used to replicate methane emission measurements within a wide range of wetland sites.     

Observation of wind shear during evening transition and an estimation of submicron aerosol concentrations in Beijing using a Doppler wind lidar

The wind speed and direction measured over six months by a Doppler wind lidar (Windcube-8) were compared with wind cup anemometers mounted on the 325-m Beijing meteorological tower (BMT). Five mountain–plain wind cases characterized by wind direction shear were selected based on the high-frequency (1.1 s) wind profile of the Windcube-8 and analyzed with 1-h mesoscale surface weather charts. Also analyzed was the relationship between in-situ PM₁ (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 μm) concentrations measured at 260 m on BMT and the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the co-located Windcube-8. The results showed that the 10-min averaged wind speed and direction were highly correlated (R = 0.96–0.99) at three matched levels (80, 140, and 200 m). The evening transition duration was 1–3 h, with an average wind speed of 1 m s^–1 at 80 m above the ground. In addition, there was a zero horizontal-wind-speed zone along the wind direction shear line, and in one case, the wind speed was characterized by a Kelvin–Helmholtz gravity wave. The variability of the PM₁ concentrations was captured by the CNR of the Windcube-8 in a fair weather period without the long-range transport of dust.     

Inland and Offshore Propagation Speeds of a Sea Breeze from Simulations and Measurements

The inland and offshore propagation speeds of a sea breeze circulation cell are simulated using a three-dimensional hydrostatic model within a terrain-following coordinate system. The model includes a third-order semi-Lagrangian advection scheme, which compares well in a one-dimensional stand-alone test with the more complex Bott and Smolarkiewicz advection schemes. Two turbulence schemes are available: a local scheme by Louis (1979) and a modified non-local scheme based on Zhang and Anthes (1982). Both compare well with higher-order closure schemes using the Wangara data set for Day 33–34 (Clark et al., 1971).Two-dimensional cross-sections derived from airborne sea breeze measurements (Finkele et al. 1995) constitute the basis for comparison with two-dimensional numerical model results. The offshore sea breeze propagation speed is defined as the speed at which the seaward extent of the sea breeze grows offshore. On a study day, the offshore sea breeze propagation speed, from both measurements and model, is -3.4 m s^-1. The measured inland propagation speed of the sea breeze decreased somewhat during the day. The model results show a fairly uniform inland propagation speed of 1.6 m s^-1 which corresponds to the average measured value. The offshore sea breeze propagation speed is about twice the inland propagation speed for this particular case study, from both the model and measurements.The influence of the offshore geostrophic wind on the sea breeze evolution, offshore extent and inland penetration are investigated. For moderate offshore geostrophic winds (-5.0 m s^-1), the offshore and inland propagation speeds are non-uniform. The offshore extent in moderate geostrophic wind conditions is similar to the offshore extent in light wind conditions (-2.5 m s^-1). The inland extent is greater in light offshore geostrophic winds than in moderate ones. This suggests that the offshore extent of the sea breeze is less sensitive to the offshore geostrophic wind than its inland extent. However, these results hold only if it is possible to define an inland propagation speed. For stronger offshore geostrophic winds (-7.5 m s^-1), the sea breeze is completely offshore and the inland propagation speed is ill-defined.     

Characteristics of air flow above and within soybean canopies

Air flow was observed above and within canopies of a number of kinds of soybeans. The Clark cultivar and two isolines of the Harosoy cultivar were studied in 1979 and 1980, respectively. Wind speed above the canopy was measured with cup anemometers. Heated thermistor anemometers were used to measure air flow within the canopy. Above-canopy air flow was characterized in terms of the zero-plane displacement (d), roughness parameter (z _o) and drag coefficient (C _d). d and z _o were dependent on canopy height but were independent of friction velocity in the range 0.55 to 0.75 m s^?1 · C _d for the various canopies ranged from 0.027 to 0.035. Greater C _d values were measured over an erectophile canopy than over a planophile canopy. C _d was not measurably affected by differences in leaf pubescence. Within-canopy wind profiles were measured at two locations: within and between rows. The wind profile was characterized by a region of great wind shear in the upper canopy and by a region of relatively weak wind shear in the middle canopy. Considerable spatial variability in wind speed was evident, however. This result has significant implications for canopy flow modeling efforts aimed at evaluating transport in the canopy. In the lower canopy, wind speed within a row increased with depth whereas wind speed between two rows decreased with depth. The wind speeds at the two locations tended to converge to a common value at a height near 0.10 m. The attenuation of within-canopy air flow was stronger in canopies with greater foliage density. Canopy flow attenuation seemed to decrease with increasing wind speed, suggesting that high winds distorted the shape of the canopy in such a manner that the penetration of wind into the canopy increased.     

Wind erosion climatic erosivity

A physically based wind-erosion climatic factor has been derived: $$CE = \rho \int {[u^2 } - (u_T^2 + \gamma ^l /\rho a^2 )]^{3/2} f(u)du$$ where ? is the air density, a is a constant made up of other constants (von Karman, height of wind speed observation, roughness parameter), u is the horizontal wind speed, u _T is threshold wind speed, f(u) u) is a wind speed probability density function, and γ is the cohesive resistance caused by water on the soil particles. Cohesive resistance is proportional to the square of water content relative to water content at ?1500 J kg^?1. Relative water content is approximated from the Budyko dryness ratio and the Thornthwaite PE index with similar results. CE is calculable from wind speed and other generally available meteorological data, and is usable in the wind erosion equation without some of the limitations of a previously used wind erosion climatic factor.     

Insight into the Role of Lower-Layer Vertical Wind Shear in Tropical Cyclone Intensification over the Western North Pacific

Vertical wind shear fundamentally influences changes in tropical cyclone (TC) intensity. The effects of vertical wind shear on tropical cyclogenesis and evolution in the western North Pacific basin are not well understood. We present a new statistical study of all named TCs in this region during the period 2000-2006 using a second-generation partial least squares (PLS) regression technique. The results show that the lower-layer (between 850 hPa and 10 m above the sea surface) wind shear is more important than the commonly analyzed deep-layer shear (between 200 and 850 hPa) for changes in TC intensity during the TC intensification period. This relationship is particularly strong for westerly low-level shear. Downdrafts induced by the lower-layer shear bring low θ e air into the boundary layer from above, significantly reducing values of θ e in the TC inflow layer and weakening the TC. Large values of deep-layer shear over the ocean to the east of the Philippine Islands inhibit TC formation, while large values of lower-layer shear over the central and western North Pacific inhibit TC intensification. The critical value of deep-layer shear for TC formation is approximately 10 ms-1 , and the critical value of lower-layer shear for TC intensification is approximately ±1.5 ms-1 .     

基于三台测风激光雷达的大气湍流和三维风场研究

为了获取大气湍流和空间三维风场结构,利用3台同型号的测风激光雷达开展协同观测试验。(1)利用虚拟铁塔协同观测技术开展大气湍流探测,与香河102 m铁塔安装的三维超声风速仪观测结果做对比,32 m处高频(10 Hz)风速的相关系数高达0.92,平均误差为0.77 m/s,均方根误差为0.41 m/s;大气湍流强度(TKE)的相关系数高达0.99,平均误差为-0.02 m²/s²,均方根误差为0.08 m²/s²,并且协同观测的高频风速与三维超声风速仪的观测结果具有相同的频谱结构。(2)利用扫描协同观测技术开展三维风场探测,与铁塔上的常规测风设备相比,其90 m高度处的水平风速和风向的相关系数分别为0.92和0.93,平均误差为-0.41 m/s和0°,均方根误差为0.73 m/s和34°。相比于单台测风激光雷达,基于3台测风激光雷达协同观测技术具有一定的优势:不需要风场水平均匀的假设、探测精度更高等。但其对观测环境的要求较高:观测路径上不能有遮挡、观测必须协同等。在科研业务应用中,需要根据实际的观测需...     

Topographic influence on surface winds

Using data collected during 1975–1976 from a meteorological network operating in the vicinity of the Columbia Generating Site approximately 8 km south of Portage, Wis., the influence of the Baraboo Hills on the surface wind field is determined. Half-hour means of wind speed and direction measured at 9 m at three sites were used to compute divergence and vorticity using Bellamy's method. The data were grouped into 18 sectors each 20 deg wide and averages computed for each quantity. Results indicate that for wind directions perpendicular to the eastern edge of the Baraboo Hills, the surface (9m) wind field is significantly perturbed up to 4 km from the bluffs. The largest convergence of 2.1 × 10^–4 s^–1 occurs with 160 deg wind direction and the largest divergence of 1.2 × 10^–4 s^–1 with 290 deg wind direction. The maximum anticyclonic vorticity was 1.6 × 10^–4 s^–1 at 210 deg and the maximum cyclonic vorticity was 1.6 × 10^–4 s^–1 at 330 deg.