Spatial and Temporal Correlation of Surface Temperature and Wind Observations.
Abstract
Nearly all weather support products depend on the fundamental accuracy of the basic weather observation, and observational accuracy depends, at least in part, on frequency and spacing. In many pans of the world, surface observations are only taken at 3-hour intervals. Weather station spacing is irregular, and there may be less than one reporting station every 200 km. When a weather observation is needed at a specific time and place (as in climatological analysis), it is usually necessary to interpolate by using the data closest to that time from the nearest available weather station. There are errors inherent in this procedure, and users of such data normally require estimates of those errors. This study provides these error estimates as functions of time and distance for surface weather observations of temperature, wind speed, and wind direction. After the methodology is explained, results are provided in appendices as probability data in a series of charts that show percentiles of cumulative distribution of changes in temperature, wind speed, and wind direction as functions of distance or time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA321156
Entities
People
- Anthony J. Warren
- John A. Rupp
Organizations
- Air Force Technical Applications Center