Feedback Mechanisms From Human Activities: Discoveries Using Data From The Oklahoma Mesonet Ken Crawford, Director Oklahoma Climatological Survey Regents’

Feedback Mechanisms From Feedback Mechanisms From Human Activities:Human Activities:

Discoveries Using Data From The Discoveries Using Data From The Oklahoma MesonetOklahoma Mesonet

Ken Crawford, DirectorKen Crawford, DirectorOklahoma Climatological SurveyOklahoma Climatological Survey

Regents’ Professor of MeteorologyRegents’ Professor of MeteorologyThe University of OklahomaThe University of Oklahoma

September 28, 2004September 28, 2004

Current Position Title:Current Position Title:

Program DirectorProgram DirectorIntegrated Surface Observation SystemsIntegrated Surface Observation Systems

Office of Science and TechnologyOffice of Science and TechnologyNational Weather Service HeadquartersNational Weather Service Headquarters

Silver Spring, MD 20910Silver Spring, MD 20910

The Oklahoma MesonetThe Oklahoma Mesonet(Average Spacing is ~30 km)(Average Spacing is ~30 km)

Site Exposure:Site Exposure:

““The” Critical Issue In Acquiring The” Critical Issue In Acquiring Quality DataQuality Data

The Impact of Trees – The Impact of Trees – BlackwellBlackwell

Large trees are Large trees are located SE of the located SE of the Blackwell Mesonet Blackwell Mesonet site.site.

How do they impact How do they impact the observations?the observations?

The Impact of Trees – BlackwellThe Impact of Trees – Blackwell

Trees toward the SW and SE Trees toward the SW and SE reducereduce the average (SW and the average (SW and SE) wind speed by more than 50% compared to the SE) wind speed by more than 50% compared to the statewide average.statewide average.

Wind anomalies at nearby sites do not correspond with Wind anomalies at nearby sites do not correspond with the anomalies at Blackwell.the anomalies at Blackwell.

Wind anomalies at Blackwell (and the nearby sites) occur Wind anomalies at Blackwell (and the nearby sites) occur on a smaller scale than the distance between the sites.on a smaller scale than the distance between the sites.

Nighttime Temperature Nighttime Temperature Anomalies at BlackwellAnomalies at Blackwell

Nighttime Temperature Anomalies Nighttime Temperature Anomalies at Blackwellat Blackwell

The average nighttime The average nighttime temperature at Blackwell temperature at Blackwell with a SE wind is almost with a SE wind is almost 10C below the statewide 10C below the statewide average.average.

The SE wind anomaly at The SE wind anomaly at Blackwell does not occur Blackwell does not occur at nearby sites.at nearby sites.

TemperatureTemperature(comparison between Micronet and nearby Mesonet sites)(comparison between Micronet and nearby Mesonet sites)

MATT HAUGLAND

Pasture-Level Influences

Note the Note the cold cold

anomaly anomaly mid-way mid-way between between

two two Mesonet Mesonet

sites sites spaced 20 spaced 20

miles miles apart!apart!

Several trees to the Several trees to the southeast of a site result in southeast of a site result in low measured values of low measured values of radiation during the first radiation during the first several hours of the day.several hours of the day.

Blue line: an unobstructed station

The Impact of the Near-Sensor Environment on the The Impact of the Near-Sensor Environment on the Resulting ObservationsResulting Observations

Related Research and Related Research and Discoveries Now PossibleDiscoveries Now Possible

The Impact of Soil Moisture and a The Impact of Soil Moisture and a Soil Moisture Climatology for Soil Moisture Climatology for

OklahomaOklahoma

Impact of an Isolated Irrigated Impact of an Isolated Irrigated Field Field

on Boundary Layer on Boundary Layer TemperaturesTemperatures

8 August 1998 — 23:00 UTC8 August 1998 — 23:00 UTC

Altus Site PhotosAltus Site Photos

Altus Site PhotosAltus Site Photos

Statewide Time SeriesStatewide Time Seriesof Soil Moistureof Soil Moisture

The annual cycle of Fractional Water Index values for Oklahoma with The annual cycle of Fractional Water Index values for Oklahoma with four soil moisture phases (I-IV) identified. (6 years of data)four soil moisture phases (I-IV) identified. (6 years of data)

Hollis, OK — 1998Hollis, OK — 1998Meteogram of Fractional Water Meteogram of Fractional Water

IndexIndex

• Rain gauge was broken during the summer, but Rain gauge was broken during the summer, but almost no rain fell during that time.almost no rain fell during that time.

• 60 & 75 cm soil moisture did not recover by the 60 & 75 cm soil moisture did not recover by the year’s end, even with winter precipitation.year’s end, even with winter precipitation.

Time/Depth Scales Of Time/Depth Scales Of Observed PrecipitationObserved Precipitation

Last 30 DaysLast 30 Days

Time/Depth Scales of Soil Time/Depth Scales of Soil MoistureMoisture

Fractional Water Index at 5 cm — Ending 10/12/03Fractional Water Index at 5 cm — Ending 10/12/03

Time/Depth Scales of Observed Time/Depth Scales of Observed PrecipitationPrecipitation

Last 120 Days


Fractional Water Index at 75 cm — Ending 10/12/03


Fractional Water Index from Fairview, OK at 4 Depths (5 cm to 75 cm) for the 30 Day Period Ending 10/12/03

Related Research and Related Research and Discoveries Now Possible…Discoveries Now Possible…

Linear Relationship Between Root Linear Relationship Between Root Zone Soil Moisture and Surface Heat Zone Soil Moisture and Surface Heat

FluxesFluxes

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

50-60

60-70

70-80

Explained Variance Between Mean Soil-Water Content and Daily-Maximum of Heat Fluxes at the Norman Mesonet Site

SHLH

Explained Variance

Soi

l Dep

th (

cm)

Linear Correlation of Fluxes With Linear Correlation of Fluxes With Respect To Soil DepthRespect To Soil Depth

SH = Flux of Sensible HeatSH = Flux of Sensible Heat LH = Flux of Latent HeatLH = Flux of Latent Heat


The Impact of VegetationThe Impact of Vegetation

(Oklahoma Winter Wheat)(Oklahoma Winter Wheat)

Mesonet Site LocationsMesonet Site Locations

“Wheat” Sites“West” Sites“East” Sites

Dew Point Changes on 27 March Dew Point Changes on 27 March 20002000

27 March 2000 – Local 27 March 2000 – Local ImpactsImpacts

Visual greenness for Visual greenness for the week ending 6 April the week ending 6 April

20002000

Wind direction Wind direction (WDIR) & dew point (WDIR) & dew point (TDEW) from (TDEW) from Freedom, OKFreedom, OK

SOM Seminar – Matt HauglandAcross Oklahoma’s Winter Wheat BeltThe Diurnal Cycle of Land-Atmosphere Interactions

Reverse Inland “Sea breeze” CirculationReverse Inland “Sea breeze” Circulation

COOL COOLWARM

H HL

H LL

Divergence

The city-center (i.e., the wheat belt) becomes warm during the afternoon and induces low-level

convergence.

SOM Seminar – Matt HauglandAcross Oklahoma’s Winter Wheat BeltThe Diurnal Cycle of Land-Atmosphere Interactions

After Harvest, June 1994-2000

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

11 13 15 17 19 21 23 1 3 5 7 9

Time (UTC)

Te

mp

. A

no

ma

ly (

C)

4.45

4.5

4.55

4.6

4.65

4.7

4.75

4.8

Pre

ss

ure

An

om

aly

(m

b)

T Anom.

P Anom.

(WWB – AC)Diurnal Temperature & Pressure AnomaliesDiurnal Temperature & Pressure Anomalies

The result is an afternoon warm anomaly over the wheat belt and a co-located low

pressure anomaly.


The Memory of Mother EarthThe Memory of Mother Earth

Rainfall Footprint from 5-7 Rainfall Footprint from 5-7 August 1994August 1994

Blackwell & Pawnee: Week Blackwell & Pawnee: Week 11

Blackwell & Pawnee: Week Blackwell & Pawnee: Week 22

Five Days Later: 12 August Five Days Later: 12 August 19941994

Double-lobed pattern in the air temperature field was evidentin the afternoon analysis 5 days later.

Five Days Later: 12 August 1994Five Days Later: 12 August 1994

Double-lobed pattern in the dew point field was evidentin the afternoon analysis 5 days later.

Other Agricultural DividendsOther Agricultural Dividends

• ““The Mesonet has proven to be one of the The Mesonet has proven to be one of the most valuable production and marketing most valuable production and marketing tools available to Oklahoma producers.”tools available to Oklahoma producers.”

Mark Hodges, Oklahoma Wheat CommissionMark Hodges, Oklahoma Wheat Commission

• ““Mesonet data was critical to provide Mesonet data was critical to provide documentation of the current drought.”documentation of the current drought.”

Gerald Downing, Latimer County Emer. Gerald Downing, Latimer County Emer. Mgmt.Mgmt.

The EndThe End

[email protected]@noaa.govgov

Documents

Feedback Mechanisms From Human Activities: Discoveries Using Data From The Oklahoma Mesonet Ken Crawford, Director Oklahoma Climatological Survey Regents’