The LAPS wind analysis

Abstract

The Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) wind analysis combines Doppler radar, profiler, aircraft, and surface wind observations into a three-dimensional gridded wind field. The goal is to combine various data sources to take advantage of the strengths of each source, thereby automating the data synthesis that a human forecaster performs. Comparisons of LAPS wind fields with independent aircraft measurements obtained during the Winter Icing and Storms Project experiment indicate agreement generally within 4 m s-1 (rms). -from Author