Some properties of low-altitude winds at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Abstract

T ground wind problem in relation to the design of space vehicles (see, e.g., Ref. 1) is being attacked in two ways: analytical methods are being developed for determining design loading conditions, and an effort is being made to acquire an understanding of low-altitude winds and turbulence and to develop analytical representations of the wind field. For the latter, NASA constructed a 150-m meteorological tower at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Because of the influence of local surface features, buildings, and other factors, as well as the amount and type of data required in design studies of space vehicles, it is necessary to acquire low-altitude turbulence information at the specific location of interest. The tower at Cape Kennedy is located near Launch Complex 39 in a well-exposed area essentially free from nearby structures. The wind data used herein were obtained from this tower at heights of 18, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 m and were recorded on magnetic tape. Temperatures and temperature differences were recorded on paper strip charts. For identification purposes, the data are labeled as tests 1-6. The following stability conditions prevailed: neutral during tests 1A-1C, stable during test 2, unstable during tests 3, 4, and 5, and undergoing transition from unstable to stable during test 6. The wind direction was from the north during tests 1A-1C, and from the southeast during tests 2-6. Tests 1A-1C represent 20-min samples taken during a 2-hr period of high-wind-speed conditions on the same day. These tests are of particular importance in the problem of determining the response of a space vehicle to ground winds.