Spatial variation of the regional wind field with land-sea contrasts and complex topography

Abstract

This study examines the spatial variation of the wind field observed in the coastal zone of southeast Korea with its complex terrain, using measurements from a regional network 75 km across and centered about Busan. Results are compared with observations from an inland regional network centered around Daegu, Korea, with less dramatic, but still significant, surface heterogeneity. The coherency between stations is examined in terms of the between-station correlations of the wind components for all pairs of stations as a function of separation distance between stations. A mesovelocity scale is defined as a measure of the spatial variability of the wind field within the network. This variability is related to wind speed and cloud cover for the two contrasting regional networks. Additional comparisons are made with a homogenous rural network in Iowa. The results underscore the complexity of flow with topography, urban areas, and land-sea contrasts and demonstrate the inadequacy of existing network strategies. © 2009 American Meteorological Society.