Fallout Predictions Computed from Satellite Derived Winds.
Abstract
The utility of thermal winds computed from satellite thermal sounder observations is investigated. The investigation is in terms of the downrange distance and radial lines used for construction of nuclear fallout predictions. Empirical estimates of the accuracies of these quantities are obtained by comparisons with the same quantities determined from radiosonde data. Sixty sets of colocated satellite and radiosonde observations were used in these evaluations. For each comparison, corresponding fallout predictions were computed for a range of assumed nuclear yields between 100 kilotons and 5 megatons. Thermal winds derived from the satellite data were used at the upper altitude. Tie-on altitudes of 15 and 10 km were used. RMS differences between the predictands derived from the two methods of determining winds yielded values of less than 5 degrees for the radial lines and less than 3 percent for the downrange distance when the 15 km tie-on was used. When the 10 km values were used for tie-on, RMS values for radial line differences varied from 3 to 9.5 degrees, while those for downrange distance varied between 0 and 7.5 percent.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA044516
Entities
People
- Louis D. Duncan
- Mary Ann Seagraves
Organizations
- United States Army Communications-Electronics Command