Collaborative Research: Stable Boundary Layer Processes and Their Interaction with Nocturnal Convection over the Great Plains in the Plains Elevated Convection At Night (PECAN)

平原夜间高架对流（PECAN）野外活动计划于2015年夏季在大平原中部进行。PECAN的科学研究重点是夜间对流，主要研究四个方面：1)夜间对流的发生和中尺度对流团的早期演化；2)钻孔和其他波状扰动；3)夜间中尺度对流系统的动力学和微物理；4)夜间对流发生和演变预报。观测行动计划需要三架研究飞机，七个移动多普勒雷达和多个探测系统。实验设计的一个主要部分是包括固定和移动PECAN综合探测阵列（PISA）单元，该单元由各种剖面仪器组成。PECAN的更广泛的社会影响是提高对水文、能源、农业和公共安全目的的夜间活动的预测。考虑到PECAN的四个研究重点，夜间稳定边界层（NSBL）结构的量化显然是至关重要的。该项目是独一无二的，因为它专注于NSBL，使用一套原位测量，这是PECAN遥感能力的宝贵补充，特别是在数据验证和校准方面。该项目部署的仪器包包括基于系绳气球的平均通量和通量系统、通量塔、sodar、915 MHz风廓线仪、激光雷达、激光测高仪、雷达探空系统和三个近地面通量/剖面系统。考虑到两个站点的空间分隔，本研究小组可以在相对于移动的中尺度对流系统及其相关的NSBL扰动（密度流和孔）的不同位置进行协调和详细的测量。该项目的更广泛影响反映了PECAN的影响；也就是说，我们的知识基础的进步和对关键天气现象的预报的改进。此外，这个项目的独特之处在于许多本科生计划参与研究。因此，该项目将为本科生提供参与前沿研究和研究培训的广泛机会，从项目规划和现场数据收集到共同撰写同行评审的出版物。

The Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field campaign is planned for the Summer of 2015 in the central Great Plains. The scientific focus of PECAN is nocturnal convection, with four separate research topics to be addressed: 1) Nocturnal convection initiation and early evolution of mesoscale convective clusters; 2) Bore and other wave-like disturbances; 3) Dynamics and microphysics of nocturnal mesoscale convective systems; 4) Prediction of nocturnal convection initiation and evolution. The observational campaign plan calls for three research aircraft, seven mobile Doppler radars, and multiple sounding systems. A main part of the experimental design is the inclusion of fixed and mobile PECAN Integrated Sounding Array (PISA) units which consists of a variety of profiling instruments. The broader societal impact of PECAN is to improve forecasts of these nocturnal events for hydrology, energy, agriculture and public safety purposes. Given PECAN's four research foci, it is clear that quantification of the nocturnal stable boundary layer (NSBL) structure is mission critical. This project is unique due to its focus on the NSBL using a suite of in situ measurements, a valuable addition to PECAN's remote sensing capabilities, especially in data validation and calibration. The instrument package deployed with this project includes tethered balloon based mean and flux systems, flux towers, SODARs, a 915 MHz wind profiler, a LIDAR, a laser ceilometer, a rawinsonde system, and three near-surface flux/profiling systems. Given the spatial separation of the two sites, this research team is ideally positioned to make coordinated and detailed measurements of the characteristics of the NSBL in different locations relative to the moving Mesoscale Convective Systems and their associated NSBL disturbances (density currents and bores). The broader impacts of this project mirror those of PECAN; that is, the advancement of our knowledge base and improvement of forecasts of critical weather phenomena. In addition, unique of this project is the planned involvement of many undergraduate students in the research. This project will thus provide extensive opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in cutting-edge research and research training, from project planning and data collection in the field to coauthoring peer-reviewed publications.