A method for classification of wind field patterns and its application to southern California

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Abstract
A method for classification of wind field patterns is described. The method forms groups of days having similar wind field patterns, including their diurnal variations. The expansion coefficients of the first eigenvector of an empirical orthogonal function analysis of the vector wind were used to determine if pairs of days are similar. A grouping procedure was then applied to form groups of similar days. Diurnally varying best‐fit wind fields were generated for each group of similar days, or types. The method was applied to southern California each season for a 2‐year period. Averaged mesoscale pressure and specific humidity fields were computed for each wind field pattern. Cause and effect relationships between the pressure, wind, and humidity fields in the complex topographic and meteorological setting are demonstrated.