Large-scale forcing data for PECAN experiment
The constrained variational objective analysis approach described in Zhang and Lin (1997) and Zhang et al. (2001) was used to derive the large-scale single-column/cloud resolving model forcing and evaluation data set for the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) Experiment.
The PECAN experiment was held over a large domain that encompasses most of western and central Kansas, northern Oklahoma, and southern Nebraska. A unique component of the PECAN observational strategy is the concept of the PECAN Integrated Sounding Array (PISA). As shown in Figure 1, there were six fixed PISA sites (FP) in the domain and four mobile PISA sites (MP); the latter were relocated for each Intensive Operational Period (IOP) to augment the domain where convection was anticipated to occur (More information on the VARANAL domain for IOPs). The DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility's Southern Great Plains (SGP) Central Facility (CF) served as one of the fixed PISA sites in the southeastern cornerstone of the PECAN domain (FP1).
For more details, please refer to the Technical Report for PECAN.
