Modeling Optical Turbulence with COAMPS During Two Observation Periods at Vandenberg AFB

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the forecastability of optical turbulence using the U.S. Navy's Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). First, a detailed synoptic study was performed over the Eastern Pacific region for observation periods in October 2001 and March 2002 to focus on mesoscale features affecting Vandenberg AFB. Second, a modified version of COAMPS version 2.0.16 model output was evaluated to ensure reasonable modeling of the mesoscale. Next, temperature and dewpoint temperature vertical profiles of COAMPS, modified with the Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE) Method, were compared with balloon-launched rawinsondes, initially, then with higher resolution thermosondes. Optical turbulence parameters were then calculated from the data and a comparison between synthetic profiles and thermosonde-derived profiles were qualitatively and quantitatively studied. Then the vertical resolution of the model was increased for selected forecasts to determine the potential for forecast improvement.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA422162

Entities

People

  • Jimmy D. Horne Jr

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Motion
  • Boundary Layer
  • Clear Air Turbulence
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Equations
  • High Pressure
  • Jet Streams
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Physics
  • Refractive Index
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Three Dimensional
  • Turbulence
  • Turbulent Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers