A SIMPLIFIED MODEL FOR THE FORMATION, MOVEMENT, AND DISSIPATION OF FAIR WEATHER CUMULUS CLOUDS.
Abstract
A stochastic model for the temporal evolution of the contribution to cloud cover by fair weather cumuli is presented. A differential equation is obtained for a probability generating function. The general solution of the differential equation is obtained and this is used to obtain the probability generating function for the number of clouds at time t given the number at time O. It is noted that the real interest is in the joint probability generating function for the numbers of clouds at times t sub 1,...,t sub n given that at time O there are no clouds. The methods of obtaining this joint probability generating function is exemplified by the solution for the case n=2. A Mathematical Appendix at the end of this report carries out certain of the derivations in greater detail. The definition and some properties of probability generating functions are also included there.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 29, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0600835
Entities
People
- Martin Fox
Organizations
- Michigan State University