Atmospheric Dynamics Research Using the Flatland Atmospheric Observatory

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ATM-9419638 VanZandt Abstract We propose to continue the operation and development of the Flatland Atmospheric Observatory (FAO), located in very flat terrain near Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, for three years. Instrumentation at FAO includes a five-beam 50 MHz wind-profiling radar, a five-beam 915 MHz wind-profiling radar with a radio- acoustic sounding system (RASS) to measure temperature profiles, a ground meteorological station, an array of 24 digital barographs centered on FAO, and a facility to launch radiosondes to measure temperature and humidity. All of the instruments except the radiosondes operate continuously through thee year. FAO will be use for atmospheric research principally in the following areas: (1) Studies of the mesoscale wind field, particularly gravity waves and momentum flux; and (2) Studies of the planetary boundary layer, particularly structure and entrainment, heat budget, and precipitaion classification. Considerable effort will be devoted to exploring the technology of wind-profiling radars; that is, their capabilities for observing microscale and mesoscale wind structures, as well as long term vertical velocities.