Preliminary results of the routine comparison of wind profiler data with the meteorological office unified model vertical wind profiles

Abstract

An aim of the Met Offices wind profiler project is to provide routine comparisons between numerical weather prediction models and European wind profiler data. This paper describes early results of routine comparisons between wind profiles from a selection of European wind profilers with similar data from the Met Office's Unified Model (UM) at mesoscale resolution.It was found that data from Aberystwyth and Cabauw compared very well with model analyses. The profiler at La Ferté Vidame had a stable relationship with these model data but showed signs of a small bias. The profiler at Dunkeswell compared well with model analyses below 2.5km but required further assessment to determine its performance at greater altitudes. The wind profiler at Camborne had the poorest relationship with model analyses. Investigations have revealed a problem with this systems configuration that has now been addressed.