Future of wind forecasting

[duanekarren]

Does the future still hold less potential for being skunked than relying on our own Craig Gowdie? Craig, I was shocked to see how much work you go to daily to give us your "best bets". I now appreciate it even more. Maybe this new technology which is no doubt still years out will let us figure why the recent fire smoke at the mountains (Stansburys?) west of the lake @Grantville was blowing to the south, then slowing making a large horseshoe & curving to the North up over the Oquirrhs at about 2000 feet above the ground while the wind at the reservoir stayed S to SW. Wonder if this new technology will be able to see those layers?

The following is from Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA)

Wind can't fool researchers

The 2008 Olympics are serving as a testing ground for a new technology that may improve aviation saftey.

A team of researchers at the Ocean University of China has developed and tested a portable Doppler Lidar (light detection and ranging) station that can accurately measure real-time wnd speed and direction over large areas.

Traditional Doppler radar can provide accurate wind information on cloudy or rainy days. But on clear days, forecaster rely on data from ocean buoys and land stations. Doppler lidar, on the other hand, works by scattering laser beams off atmospheric molecules. When the molecules move in the wind, the scattered laser light changes frequency.

Researcher say Doppler lidar can quickly sample a large area, providing a much finer map than wind cups and unltrasonic anemometers. The technology is being tested in conjuntion with the Olympic sailing competions.