Examination of spatial wind features associated with ramping events using MODE

Drastic sustained changes in wind speed, e.g. ramping events, appear to be related to spatial wind features such as cold fronts. This work examines the spatial wind features from a set of ramping event case studies using the Method for Object-based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) tool, available as part of the Model Evaluation Tools (MET) software package. This tool is used to define spatial objects and their attributes based on model wind speed, vorticity, and divergence fields. A prototype extension of MODE tracks these spatial objects through time. The goal of the study is to determine if these spatial or spacetime objects relate well to the observed ramping events. If so, then information from features-based verification can be used to improve model predictions of wind features, resulting in improved forecasts of ramping events.