A COMPARISON OF PIBAL WITH RAOB AND RAWIN WIND MEASUREMENTS,
Abstract
An empirical study of the time and space variability of winds measured by triple-theodolite pilot balloon observations (pibals) compared with radiosonde (raob) and rawinsonde wind measurements at Green River, Utah, during the months of September 1965, and June, July, and August 1966, is presented. Pibal and rawin wind measurements at 500-foot intervals from 1000 to 10,000 feet were compared with radiosonde winds, and from 6500 to 10,000 feet pibal and rawin winds were compared. Absolute mean wind direction differences decreased from 22 degrees at 1000 feet to 9 degrees at 5500 feet, and from 10 degrees at 6500 feet to 5.5 degrees at 10,000 feet. A negative bias of 9 and 8 degrees was evident at the 1000 and 1500-foot levels, respectively. Absolute mean wind speed differences ranged from 2.75 m/sec at 1000 feet to 1.5 m/sec at 3500 feet and approximately 1.0 m/sec at all levels above. Mean pibal wind speeds were greater than the raob measurements at all levels, ranging from 2.6 m/sec at 1000 feet to 1.1 m/sec at 2500 feet and near 0.5 m/sec from 3000 to 5500 feet. No significant bias between the pibal and rawin speeds was indicated. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0653004
Entities
People
- L. J. Rider
Organizations
- Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory