Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data

Weibull distributions were fitted to wind speed data from radiosonde stations in the global tropics. A statistical theory of independent wind contributions was proposed to partially explain the shape parameter <i>k</i> obtained over Malay Peninsula and the wider Equatoria...

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Main Authors: T.-Y. Koh, Y. S. Djamil, C.-K. Teo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-05-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/4177/2011/acp-11-4177-2011.pdf
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author T.-Y. Koh
Y. S. Djamil
C.-K. Teo
author_facet T.-Y. Koh
Y. S. Djamil
C.-K. Teo
author_sort T.-Y. Koh
collection DOAJ
description Weibull distributions were fitted to wind speed data from radiosonde stations in the global tropics. A statistical theory of independent wind contributions was proposed to partially explain the shape parameter <i>k</i> obtained over Malay Peninsula and the wider Equatorial Monsoon Zone. This statistical dynamical underpinning provides some justification for using empirical Weibull fits to derive wind speed thresholds for monitoring data quality. The regionally adapted thresholds retain more useful data than conventional ones defined from taking the regional mean plus three standard deviations. The new approach is shown to eliminate reports of atypically strong wind over Malay Peninsula which may have escaped detection in quality control of global datasets as the latter has assumed a larger spread of wind speed. New scientific questions are raised in the pursuit of statistical dynamical understanding of meteorological variables in the tropics.
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spelling doaj.art-ee89f2c7a63d4436ae92ce12cc13d5182022-12-22T00:10:15ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242011-05-011194177418910.5194/acp-11-4177-2011Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde dataT.-Y. KohY. S. DjamilC.-K. TeoWeibull distributions were fitted to wind speed data from radiosonde stations in the global tropics. A statistical theory of independent wind contributions was proposed to partially explain the shape parameter <i>k</i> obtained over Malay Peninsula and the wider Equatorial Monsoon Zone. This statistical dynamical underpinning provides some justification for using empirical Weibull fits to derive wind speed thresholds for monitoring data quality. The regionally adapted thresholds retain more useful data than conventional ones defined from taking the regional mean plus three standard deviations. The new approach is shown to eliminate reports of atypically strong wind over Malay Peninsula which may have escaped detection in quality control of global datasets as the latter has assumed a larger spread of wind speed. New scientific questions are raised in the pursuit of statistical dynamical understanding of meteorological variables in the tropics.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/4177/2011/acp-11-4177-2011.pdf
spellingShingle T.-Y. Koh
Y. S. Djamil
C.-K. Teo
Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
title_full Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
title_fullStr Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
title_full_unstemmed Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
title_short Statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
title_sort statistical dynamics of tropical wind in radiosonde data
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/4177/2011/acp-11-4177-2011.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT tykoh statisticaldynamicsoftropicalwindinradiosondedata
AT ysdjamil statisticaldynamicsoftropicalwindinradiosondedata
AT ckteo statisticaldynamicsoftropicalwindinradiosondedata