A Wind and Thermodynamic Profiling System for Advancements in Forecasting and Assimilation of High-Impact Hydrologic Events

Understanding atmospheric wind and thermodynamic characteristics both within the boundary layer and aloft plays a critical role in the ability to advance the state-of-the-science in regard to forecasting and assimilation of high-impact hydrologic events ranging from convective precipitation associated with typhoons to flooding and landslides resulting from monsoon driven rainfall. The ability to continuously monitor dynamically changing conditions in real-time provides insight into the relationship between the evolution of the observed conditions and the associated hydrologic response. This paper seeks to demonstrate a new Wind and Thermodynamic Profiling System (WTPS) recently installed on Dongsha Island, a remote atoll in the South China Sea. The system includes a microwave profiling radiometer integrated with a radar wind profiler. When combined, the instrumentation provides continuous real-time thermodynamic and vertical wind profiles both within the boundary layer and above allowing for a new method of observing the atmospheric characteristics and evolution of dynamic systems. These observations will be utilized by the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau to advance their understanding of and ability to model and forecast high-impact hydrologic events.