Work

Comparisons of CLOVAR windprofiler horizontal winds with radiosondes and CMC regional analyses

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: The Canadian (London, Ontario) VHF Atmospheric Radar (CLOVAR) windprofiler radar near London, Ontario is a relatively new tool for atmospheric wind measurements (Hocking, 1994, 1997a). In order to verify its proper performance, vertical profiles of horizontal winds were compared with other wind estimates available during the period January 1996 to November 1997. Comparisons with co‐located radiosonde flights (a series of 29 flights in May–June 1996, and another of 8 flights in May–July 1997) showed excellent agreement between the two techniques. In addition, comparisons with horizontal winds measured by routine radiosonde balloons launched some 180 km south‐west of London, at White Lake (Detroit), and some 210 km east of London at Buffalo Airport, showed good agreement, considering the meteorological differences which would be expected at these ranges. A further comparison between winds measured with the radar, and winds extracted for London from Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) regional analyses, showed very good agreement. These favourable intercomparisons have verified that the CLOVAR is a reliable tool for observing horizontal winds, and have provided interesting insight into the CMC model.

Source: ATMOSPHERE-OCEAN

DOI: 10.1080/07055900.2001.9649669

Authors: Radian G. Belu, Wayne K. Hocking, Norman Donaldson, Thayananthan Thayaparan

Institutions: Western University, Wayne State University, Defence Research and Development Canada

Language: English

Topic: Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada