AN ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONAL 300-MB TRANSOSONDE FLIGHTS FROM JAPAN IN 1957–58

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Abstract
This paper summarizes the operational 300-mb constant-level balloon or transosonde flights made by the United States Navy from Iwakuni, Japan during 1957–58. On the average, the transosondes reached the west coast of the United States 3 days after release in winter and 4 days after release in spring and fall. The trajectories traversed the United States farther to the north in winter than in spring or fall. For these flights, the zonal standard deviation of position increased approximately linearly with time since transosonde release, whereas the meridional standard deviation of position remained practically constant after the transosondes had been aloft 3 days. The mean transosonde-derived wind speed, at 300 mb was 71 kn while the mean cross-contour flow was 7.5 kn and the mean deviation between wind and geostrophic wind speed was 12.4 kn. Zonal and meridional ageostrophic winds derived from the transosondes suggest that, at 300 mb, six or seven per cent of the northward transport of momentum at... Abstract This paper summarizes the operational 300-mb constant-level balloon or transosonde flights made by the United States Navy from Iwakuni, Japan during 1957–58. On the average, the transosondes reached the west coast of the United States 3 days after release in winter and 4 days after release in spring and fall. The trajectories traversed the United States farther to the north in winter than in spring or fall. For these flights, the zonal standard deviation of position increased approximately linearly with time since transosonde release, whereas the meridional standard deviation of position remained practically constant after the transosondes had been aloft 3 days. The mean transosonde-derived wind speed, at 300 mb was 71 kn while the mean cross-contour flow was 7.5 kn and the mean deviation between wind and geostrophic wind speed was 12.4 kn. Zonal and meridional ageostrophic winds derived from the transosondes suggest that, at 300 mb, six or seven per cent of the northward transport of momentum at...

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