84th AMS Annual Meeting

Sunday, 11 January 2004
Mesonet Sensor Siting in Support of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
Room 608/609
Robin L. De La Vega, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
In the wake of worldwide terrorism, the upcoming 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will be closely monitored environmentally for any hints of terrorist activities. Should an event occur, details of possible plume flow and the exact state of the atmosphere are critical to forecasting the probable direction and dispersal speed of chemical or biological gases, as well as the rapid and safe evacuation of the population. Due to the complex terrain and coastal influences, placement of additional atmospheric sensors throughout the city and venue sites will provide vital information needed for quick and accurate assessment of the current atmospheric state as well as forecasts. This study examined climatological synoptic patterns with surface and upper-air observations to gain a thorough understanding of interactions between the common summertime synoptic patterns and local sea breeze flow in and around the Greater Athens Area (GAA) to determine the resulting low-level wind flow patterns. Those probable low-level wind patterns were then coupled with climatological inversion height information and detailed terrain data to determine optimal placement of meteorological sensors in a local mesonet arrangement to capture, record, and disseminate low-level wind data critical to authorities making life and death decisions for tens of thousands of athletes, spectators, and residents of the GAA.

Supplementary URL: