Forecast Improvements
Characteristics of Surface Cold Fronts
Objectives
Explain an unusual cold frontal passage in early winter 2006-07 using Oklahoma
Mesonet data.
Accomplishments
This unfunded project, done in collaboration with Dr. Matt Haugland of
NanoWeather, Inc., has sought to explain an unusual cold frontal passage
early in the winter of 2006-2007 using Oklahoma Mesonet data. The frontal
passage was initially marked by a temperature rise, followed by a gradual
decline. The explanation for this behavior is shown to be related to
characteristics in the pre-frontal boundary layer, and a contrasting
case exhibiting classic cold frontal characteristics is presented for
comparison. A publication regarding this work has been submitted for
review and is in press as of this writing.
This project is ongoing.
Publications
Hu, M., and M. Xue, 2007: Implementation and evaluation of cloud analysis
with WSR-88D reflectivity data for GSI and WRF-ARW. Geophys.
Res. Lett.,
34, L07808, doi:10.1029/2006GL028847.
Hu, M., and M. Xue, 2007: Impact of configurations of rapid intermittent assimilation of WSR-88D radar data for the 8 May 2003 Oklahoma City tornadic thunderstorm case. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 507-525.
Hu, M., S. Weygandt, M. Xue, and S. Benjamin, 2007: Development and testing of a new cloud analysis package using radar, satellite, and surface cloud observations within GSI for initializing rapid refresh. 18th Conf. on Numerical Weather Prediction and 22nd Conf. on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, Park City, UT, Amer. Meteor. Soc.
Meteogram from the Norman Mesonet site, showing wind direction at 10 m (black) and temperature at 1.5 m (ºF, red) for the period from 00 CST (06 UTC) on 7 December 2006, to 21 CST (03 UTC on 8 December). Note the abrupt initial temperature rise following the passage of the “cold front”.