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. Other fields derived primarily from the wind analysis include radar echo steering wind, helicity, and lifted index times vertical velocity (an indicator of convective potential). This report describes LAPS wind analysis procedures. 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. The utility of these analyses to the operational forecaster is an important part of designing the analysis procedure and output displays. 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).