Strong Wind and Vertical Wind Shear Above 30 Km


Book Description

Strong wind and vertical wind shear must be considered for design and operation of vehicles that will either operate in or penetrate the upper stratosphere and mesosphere. Global extremes of these atmosphere parameters are estimated in this report for altitudes above 30 km. For the Northern Hemisphere estimated 90, 95, and 99% winds, related to the windiest months and locations, are provided for altitudes between 30 and 80 km. Speed increases up to about 55 km and appears to decrease thereafter up to at least 75 or 80 km in November, December, and January. The 99% winds can be expected to approach 215 mps near 55 km at certain locations between latitudes 35 and 60N. For the Southern Hemisphere 90, 95, and 99% winds are provided for altitudes between 30 and 60 km. The 99% winds reach roughly 200 mps near 55 km. Since estimates for the Southern Hemisphere are not necessarily representative of either the windiest month or location, results are uncertain and speeds probably will be somewhat larger than indicated. For the same percentiles, 1-km thick vertical wind shears have been estimated for altitudes between 30 and 70 km. Shears generally increase, and maximum values tend to move equatorward with altitude. (Author).




Practical Meteorology


Book Description

A quantitative introduction to atmospheric science for students and professionals who want to understand and apply basic meteorological concepts but who are not ready for calculus.










Synopsis of Background Material for MIL-STD-210B, Climatic Extremes for Military Equipment


Book Description

The Design Climatology Branch of the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories had the scientific responsibility for leading a DoD Task Group effort to revise MIL-STD-210A 'Climatic Extremes for Military Equipment'. This document represents the fruition of the goals of the task group. It relates the background studies supporting the values in MIL-STD-210B, so that MIL-STD-210B users need to consult only this single document for an elaboration on the MIL- STD-210B extremes. In addition, the report contains information on the origin, necessity for and the events leading to a revision of MIL-STD-210A. Discussions of the major changes in the Standard's philosophy and its contents are also provided.




Wind Distributions and Interlevel Correlations, Surface to 60 Km


Book Description

Information is provided in this report on the interlevel correlations of the east/west and north/south wind components for altitudes between the surface and 60 km, with special emphasis on levels between 25 km and 60 km. Mean monthly wind speeds and day-to-day variations due to synoptic changes in weather patterns are included. Estimates are also given of the probability of extreme wind speeds at specific locations and altitudes up to 60 km. A statistical technique that can be used to obtain estimates of the integrated effect of wind on the trajectories and impact points of reentry vehicles is presented, and an example of its application is given. These effects due to the winds must be considered, along with the density effects, in the design and operation of guidance systems for reentry vehicles and for targeting ballistic missiles.










Global Perspectives On Tropical Cyclones: From Science To Mitigation


Book Description

This book is a completely rewritten, updated and expanded new edition of the original Global Perspectives on Tropical Cyclones published in 1995. It presents a comprehensive review of the state of science and forecasting of tropical cyclones together with the application of this science to disaster mitigation, hence the tag: From Science to Mitigation.Since the previous volume, enormous progress in understanding tropical cyclones has been achieved. These advances range from the theoretical through to ever more sophisticated computer modeling, all underpinned by a vast and growing range of observations from airborne, space and ocean observation platforms. The growth in observational capability is reflected by the inclusion of three new chapters on this topic. The chapter on the effects of climate change on tropical cyclone activity is also new, and appropriate given the recent intense debate on this issue. The advances in the understanding of tropical cyclones which have led to significant improvements in forecasting track, intensity, rainfall and storm surge, are reviewed in detail over three chapters. For the first time, a chapter on seasonal prediction is included. The book concludes with an important chapter on disaster mitigation, which is timely given the enormous loss of life in recent tropical cyclone disasters.World Scientific Series on Asia-Pacific Weather and Climate is indexed in SCOPUS.