Lessons learnt at the Met Office from the Great Storm of 1987 - a comparison with recent strong wind events

Weather ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 268-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Fox ◽  
Rebekah Sherwin ◽  
Fraser Ralston
Keyword(s):  
Strong Wind ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Wind Events

scholarly journals The intensity of slope and fluvial processes after a catastrophic windthrow event in small catchments in the Tatra Mountains

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1405-1423
Author(s):  
Dariusz Strzyżowski ◽  
Elżbieta Gorczyca ◽  
Kazimierz Krzemień ◽  
Mirosław Żelazny
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
Salvage Logging ◽  
Fluvial Processes ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Tatra Mountains ◽  
The Impact

AbstractStrong wind events frequently result in creating large areas of windthrow, which causes abrupt environmental changes. Bare soil surfaces within pits and root plates potentially expose soil to erosion. Absence of forest may alter the dynamics of water circulation. In this study we attempt to answer the question of whether extensive windthrows influence the magnitude of geomorphic processes in 6 small second- to third-order catchments with area ranging from 0.09 km2 to 0.8 km2. Three of the catchments were significantly affected by a windthrow which occurred in December 2013 in the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains, and the other three catchments were mostly forested and served as control catchments. We mapped the pits created by the windthrow and the linear scars created by salvage logging operations in search of any signs of erosion within them. We also mapped all post-windthrow landslides created in the windthrow-affected catchments. The impact of the windthrow on the fluvial system was investigated by measuring a set of channel characteristics and determining bedload transport intensity using painted tracers in all the windthrow-affected and control catchments. Both pits and linear scars created by harvesting tend to become overgrown by vegetation in the first several years after the windthrow. The only signs of erosion were observed in 10% of the pits located on convergent slopes. During the period from the windthrow event in 2013 until 2019, 5 very small (total area <100 m2) shallow landslides were created. The mean distance of bedload transport was similar (t-test, p=0.05) in most of the windthrow-affected and control catchments. The mapping of channels revealed many cases of root plates fallen into a channel and pits created near a channel. A significant amount of woody debris delivered into the channels influenced the activity of fluvial processes by creating alternating zones of erosion and accumulation.

scholarly journals A methodology to conduct wind damage field surveys for high-impact weather events of convective origin

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1513-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oriol Rodríguez ◽  
Joan Bech ◽  
Juan de Dios Soriano ◽  
Delia Gutiérrez ◽  
Salvador Castán
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
High Impact Weather ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
The One

Abstract. Post-event damage assessments are of paramount importance to document the effects of high-impact weather-related events such as floods or strong wind events. Moreover, evaluating the damage and characterizing its extent and intensity can be essential for further analysis such as completing a diagnostic meteorological case study. This paper presents a methodology to perform field surveys of damage caused by strong winds of convective origin (i.e. tornado, downburst and straight-line winds). It is based on previous studies and also on 136 field studies performed by the authors in Spain between 2004 and 2018. The methodology includes the collection of pictures and records of damage to human-made structures and on vegetation during the in situ visit to the affected area, as well as of available automatic weather station data, witness reports and images of the phenomenon, such as funnel cloud pictures, taken by casual observers. To synthesize the gathered data, three final deliverables are proposed: (i) a standardized text report of the analysed event, (ii) a table consisting of detailed geolocated information about each damage point and other relevant data and (iii) a map or a KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file containing the previous information ready for graphical display and further analysis. This methodology has been applied by the authors in the past, sometimes only a few hours after the event occurrence and, on many occasions, when the type of convective phenomenon was uncertain. In those uncertain cases, the information resulting from this methodology contributed effectively to discern the phenomenon type thanks to the damage pattern analysis, particularly if no witness reports were available. The application of methodologies such as the one presented here is necessary in order to build homogeneous and robust databases of severe weather cases and high-impact weather events.

scholarly journals Design of a scanning laser meter for monitoring the spatio-temporal evolution of snow depth and its application in the Alps and in Antarctica

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1495-1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghislain Picard ◽  
Laurent Arnaud ◽  
Jean-Michel Panel ◽  
Samuel Morin
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Slow Increase ◽  
Automatic Instrument ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Wind Events

Abstract. Although both the temporal and spatial variations of the snow depth are usually of interest for numerous applications, available measurement techniques are either space-oriented (e.g. terrestrial laser scans) or time-oriented (e.g. ultrasonic ranging probe). Because of snow heterogeneity, measuring depth in a single point is insufficient to provide accurate and representative estimates. We present a cost-effective automatic instrument to acquire spatio-temporal variations of snow depth. The device comprises a laser meter mounted on a 2-axis stage and can scan  ≈  200 000 points over an area of 100–200 m2 in 4 h. Two instruments, installed in Antarctica (Dome C) and the French Alps (Col de Porte), have been operating continuously and unattended over 2015 with a success rate of 65 and 90 % respectively. The precision of single point measurements and long-term stability were evaluated to be about 1 cm and the accuracy to be 5 cm or better. The spatial variability in the scanned area reached 7–10 cm (root mean square) at both sites, which means that the number of measurements is sufficient to average out the spatial variability and yield precise mean snow depth. With such high precision, it was possible for the first time at Dome C to (1) observe a 3-month period of regular and slow increase of snow depth without apparent link to snowfalls and (2) highlight that most of the annual accumulation stems from a single event although several snowfall and strong wind events were predicted by the ERA-Interim reanalysis. Finally the paper discusses the benefit of laser scanning compared to multiplying single-point sensors in the context of monitoring snow depth.

scholarly journals Dissolved iron (II) in the Baltic Sea surface water and implications for cyanobacterial bloom development

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 3803-3850 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Breitbarth ◽  
J. Gelting ◽  
J. Walve ◽  
L. J. Hoffmann ◽  
D. R. Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Cyanobacterial Bloom ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Ferrous Ions ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract. Iron chemistry measurements were conducted during summer 2007 at two distinct locations in the Baltic Sea (Gotland Deep and Landsort Deep) to evaluate the role of iron for cyanobacterial bloom development in these estuarine waters. Depth profiles of Fe(II) were measured by chemiluminescent flow injection analysis (CL-FIA) and reveal several origins of Fe(II) to the water column. Photoreduction of Fe(III)-complexes and deposition by rain are main sources of Fe(II) (up to 0.9 nmol L−1) in light penetrated surface waters. Indication for organic Fe(II) complexation resulting in prolonged residence times in oxygenated water was observed. Surface dwelling heterocystous cyanobacteria where mainly responsible for Fe(II) consumption in comparison to other phytoplankton. The significant Fe(II) concentrations in surface waters apparently play a major role in cyanobacterial bloom development in the Baltic Sea and are a major contributor to the Fe requirements of diazotrophs. Second, Fe(II) concentrations up to 1.44 nmol L−1 were observed at water depths below the euphotic zone, but above the oxic anoxic interface. Finally, all Fe(III) is reduced to Fe(II) in anoxic deep water. However, only a fraction thereof is present as ferrous ions (up to 28 nmol L−1) and was detected by the CL-FIA method applied. Despite their high concentrations, it is unlikely that ferrous ions originating from sub-oxic waters could be a temporary source of bioavailable iron to the euphotic zone since mixed layer depths after strong wind events are not deep enough in summer time.

scholarly journals A spatial evaluation of high-resolution wind fields from empirical and dynamical modeling in hilly and mountainous terrain

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schlager ◽  
Gottfried Kirchengast ◽  
Juergen Fuchsberger ◽  
Alexander Kann ◽  
Heimo Truhetz
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Wind Fields ◽  
Dynamical Modeling ◽  
Thermally Induced ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Error Measures ◽  
Wind Events

Abstract. Empirical high-resolution surface wind fields, automatically generated by a weather diagnostic application, the WegenerNet Wind Product Generator (WPG), were intercompared with wind field analysis data from the Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis (INCA) system and with dynamical climate model wind field data from the non-hydrostatic climate model COSMO-CLM. The INCA analysis fields are available at a horizontal grid spacing of 1 km x 1 km, whereas the COSMO model fields are from simulations at a 3 km x 3 km grid. The WPG, developed by Schlager et al. (2017, 2018), generates diagnostic fields at a high resolution grid of 100 m x 100 m, using observations from two dense meteorological station networks: The WegenerNet Feldbach Region (FBR) and its alpine sister network, the WegenerNet Johnsbachtal (JBT). The high-density WegenerNet FBR is located in southeastern Styria, Austria, a region predominated by a hilly terrain and small differences in altitude. The network consists of more than 150 meteorological stations. The WegenerNet JBT contains eleven meteorological stations at elevations ranging from about 600 m to 2200 m in a mountainous region in northern Styria. The wind fields of these different empirical/dynamical modeling approaches were intercompared for thermally induced and strong wind events, using hourly temporal resolutions as supplied by the WPG, with the focus on evaluating spatial differences and displacements between the different datasets. For this comparison, a novel neighborhood-based spatial wind verification methodology based on fractions skill socres (FSS) is used to estimate the modeling performances. All comparisons show an increasing FSS with increasing neighborhood size. In general, the spatial verification indicates a better statistical agreement for the hilly WegenerNet FBR than for the mountainous WegenerNet JBT. The results for the WegenerNet FBR show a better agreement between INCA and WegenerNet than between COSMO and WegenerNet wind fields, especially for large scales (neighborhoods). In particular, COSMO-CLM clearly underperforms in case of thermally induced wind events. For the JBT region, all spatial comparisons indicate little overlap at small neighborhood sizes and in general large biases of wind vectors occur between the dynamical (COSMO) and analysis (INCA) fields and the diagnostic (WegenerNet) reference dataset. Furthermore, gridpoint-based error measures were calculated for the same evaluation cases. The statistical agreement, estimated for the vector-mean wind speed and wind directions show again a better agreement for the WegenerNet FBR than for the WegenerNet JBT region. In general, the difference between modeled and observed wind directions is smaller for strong wind speed events than for thermally induced ones. A combined examination of all spatial and gridpoint-based error measures shows that COSMO-CLM with its limited horizontal resolution of 3 km x 3 km and hence, a too smoothed orography, is not able to represent small-scale wind patterns. The results for the JBT region indicate that the INCA analysis fields generally overestimate wind speeds in the summit regions. For strong wind speed events the wind speed in the valleys is underestimated by INCA, however. Regarding the WegenerNet diagnostic wind fields, the statistics show decent performance in the FBR and somewhat overestimated wind speeds for strong wind speed events in the Enns valley of the JBT region.

Two Views of the Impact of Strong Wind Events on Forests of the Southern United States

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pete Bettinger ◽  
Krista L. Merry ◽  
Donald L. Grebner
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Southern United States ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
The Impact

Aeolian transport on a wet beach: Field observations from the swash zone

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy Swann ◽  
sarah trimble
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Swash Zone ◽  
Aeolian Transport ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Wind Velocities ◽  
Wind Events

&lt;p&gt;Quantifying aeolian transport within the swash zone is critical to understanding feedbacks between aeolian and nearshore processes in coastal environments. In the swash zone, high moisture contents are thought to significantly limit the amount of sediment available for transport by wind. These assertions are supported by empirical relationships between the threshold for aeolian transport and moisture content that show gravimetric moisture contents greater than ~5% severely restrict the transport of windblown sand. Yet, during strong wind events aeolian transport can occur in the swash zone where moisture content is significantly higher. Here, we present field observations of fully-saturated aeolian transport on a wet beach and highlight the proficiency of winds to sustain aeolian transport in the swash zone. &amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Field observations were collected during the passing of Tropical Storm Nester on a dissipative beach north of Corolla, North Carolina, USA in the early morning hours of October 19. 2019. Beach width ranged between ~50 and 100 meters and observations were made during a falling tide. Alignment of predominate winds and beach orientation provided a nearly unlimited fetch with an abundant sediment supply from the drier upper beach. Mean grain sizes of surface grab samples in the swash zone were 0.17 to 0.19 mm and moisture content in the swash zone ranged from 8 to 13% during the observational period.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Videos of fully developed, saturated transport in the form of nested streamers, approximately 5-20 cm wide, were recorded. A vertical array of cup and sonic anemometers measured near surface fluid flow. Cup anemometers were sampled at 1 Hz and observed wind velocities at 7, 18, 44, 68 and 93 cm above the surface. Ultrasonic anemometers sampled 3 dimensional velocity components at 32 Hz via at 53 and ~100 cm. &amp;#160;Sustained wind velocities were 9.5 m/s at 93 cm above the surface with gusts reaching 14 m/s. A series of vertically-segregating saltation traps captured particles in transport and showed minimal size-segregation with height. Gravimetric moisture content of captured saltation ranged from 0 to 4%.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pulses of abundant aeolian transport during the storm were largely driven by largescale coherent eddies initiating transport from the drier upper beach. These upper beach sediments sustained transport on the lower, wet beach. The spatial and temporal variability of the exceedance of both fluid and impact thresholds strongly controls transport. These field observations demonstrate the proficiency of wind to transport of large volumes sand in the swash zone during strong alongshore wind events.&lt;/p&gt;

Statistical Summary and Case Studies of Strong Wind Damage in China

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1096-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuyang Cao ◽  
◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Wind Damage ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
Engineering Measures ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
Forestry Products ◽  
Statistical Summary

Strong wind events, such as typhoons and tornados, have caused severe damage to buildings and other structures as well as agricultural and forestry products in China. This paper analyzes statistical data on typhoons and tornados in China, and it reports case studies on strong wind damage. Lessons from past damage from strong winds, as well as engineering measures against potential wind damage to low-cost houses, are presented for the purpose of wind-related disaster risk reduction.

scholarly journals Strong-wind events and their influence on the formation of snow dunes: observations from Kohnen station, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (199) ◽  
pp. 891-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerit Birnbaum ◽  
Johannes Freitag ◽  
Ralf Brauner ◽  
Gert König-Langlo ◽  
Elisabeth Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Austral Summer ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Dronning Maud Land ◽  
Low Pressure System ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
Drilling Site

AbstractAnalyses of shallow cores obtained at the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) drilling site Kohnen station (75°00′ S, 00°04′ E; 2892 m a.s.l.) on the plateau of Dronning Maud Land reveal the presence of conserved snow dunes in the firn. In situ observations during three dune formation events in the 2005/06 austral summer at Kohnen station show that these periods were characterized by a phase of 2 or 3 days with snowdrift prior to dune formation which only occurred during high wind speeds of >10 m s-1 at 2 m height caused by the influence of a low-pressure system. The dune surface coverage after a formation event varied between 5% and 15%, with a typical dune size of (4 ± 2) m × (8 ± 3) m, a maximum height of 0.2 ± 0.1 m and a periodicity length of about 30 m. The mean density within a snow dune varied between 380 and 500 kg m-3, whereas the mean density at the surrounding surface was 330 ± 5 kgm-3. The firn cores covering a time-span of 22 ± 2 years reveal that approximately three to eight events per year occurred, during which snow dunes had been formed and were preserved in the firn.

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