An analysis of urban surface meteorology data collected prior to the joint urban 2003 urban dispersion experiment

Prior to the Joint Urban 2003 urban dispersion experiment in Oklahoma City, OK, the West Desert Test Center (WDTC) deployed an array of 15 automated weather stations mounted on lampposts in and around the central business district. These stations measured the wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity at a temporal spacing of ten seconds. The deployment of these sensors allowed the Joint Urban 2003 scientific team to optimize the placement of sonic anemometers, tracer detectors, and dissemination sites for the July 2003 experiment. Using wind speed and direction we examine similarities and differences observed between the fifteen sites. We also show how the data varies throughout the day and from season to season, as well as how the urban data differs from the large-scale flow.