The Variability of Visibility in the Hanscom Mesonetwork: A Preliminary Assessment.
Abstract
A preliminary assessment of the temporal and spatial variability of visibility in the Hanscom mesonetwork has been conducted with approximately eight months (September 1972-April 1973) of data. The variability of measurements obtained from forward scatter visibility meters (FSM) was found to be greatest in radiation fog episodes and least in precipitation in both time and space. Time variability was found not to be greatly affected by local topography and to be less at 45 m than at 4 m above ground level. An examination of interpolation error, through the method of optimum interpolation, revealed an improvement in the error of about 20 percent when the distance between observation points is halved in advective situations and about 10 percent in radiation fog episodes. Relating the interpolation errors to the natural variability of visibility prescribed the prediction potential of the Hanscom mesonetwork for short range prediction experiments. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0784791
Entities
People
- Donald A. Chisholm
- Horst Kruse
Organizations
- Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories