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Title: Approaches to Mesoscale Pressure Patterns from Mobile Data Platforms
Measurements of atmospheric pressure by mesoscale transects of vehicle platforms such as the National Severe Storms Lab (NSSL) mobile mesonets have previously been collected in various targeted field campaigns. The challenges involved were specifically documented in the very different environments of tornadogenesis (Markowski et al., 2002) and orographic foehn winds (Raab and Mayr 2008). In recent years, the Jackson State University Mobile Meteorology Unit (MMU) has been developed with broad ranging applications in mind. Barometric pressure was originally expected only to be used for calculation of potential temperature over transects with significant elevation change. Previous studies have determined a dynamic change in measured pressure due to vehicle motion relative to the air that varies quadratically with speed, in agreement with theoretical expectations. This quadratic relationship is examined for the MMU under a variety of conditions. In order to consider least squares regression of this relationship, it was necessary to also have accurate speed and elevation data. Since even quite small elevation changes can produce measurable pressure changes, it was considered necessary to reduce pressures in each transect to the mean elevation using the methodology of Markowski et al. (2002). This required a combination of digital elevation model (DEM) and geographic positioning system (GPS) data to have sufficiently accurate elevations matched to the locations of the pressure measurements. Speed relative to ground from the GPS was used in place of actual air flow speed. Cases to be discussed include transects from approximately 20 to 200 km in length: approximately uniform conditions in flat terrain; crossing of orographic barriers; and cold fronts. Differences between pressure data collected with and without a pressure port are also considered. The impacts for determination of mesoscale pressure gradients, potential temperature, and other derived quantities will be evaluated.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1644888
PAR ID:
10301218
Author(s) / Creator(s):
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Environmental sciences proceedings
Volume:
8
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2673-4931
Page Range / eLocation ID:
46
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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