Extended Abstract (556K)P10.9
An updated warm-season convective wind climatology for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station/Kennedy Space Center
Andrew N. Loconto, Plymouth State Univ., Plymouth, NH; and J. P. Koermer and W. P. Roeder
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are located in ‘lightning alley' of the United States. After lightning advisories, convective winds from thunderstorms are the second most frequent warning issued by 45 WS. The long lead-times and precise speed thresholds of these convective wind warnings make them an extreme challenge. A NASA Space Grant was awarded to develop a climatology of the convective winds at CCAFS/KSC as a first step in improving the convective wind warnings at these locations. Nine years of wind observations for May through September from over 40 towers covering the CCAFS/KSC and surrounding areas were analyzed to develop an updated convective wind climatology. The peak wind data were first subjected to extensive automated and manual quality control. Strong wind episodes were deemed convective through reviews of archived satellite, radar, lightning, and KTTS surface observations. Additionally, surface analyses were used to assess potential pressure gradient contributions to the stronger outbreaks and to eliminate tropical cyclone-driven events. Climatological assessments will include breakouts by year, month, time-of-day, and tower elevation. In addition, a frequency distribution of peak wind speeds will be developed. Preliminary results will be presented at the conference.
Poster Session 10, Range and Aerospace Posters
Wednesday, 1 February 2006, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, Exhibit Hall A2
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