Vertical Gradient Thresholds for Diagnosing Potentially Erroneous GriddedMeteorological Messages (METGMs)

Author(s):

Brian P Reen and Patrick A Haines

Abstract:

Vertical gradient criteria are identified that suggest atmospheric fields may not be trustworthy in the three-dimensional/ four-dimensional gridded meteorological message (METGM) files used for calculating artillery firing solutions. Initially, criteria designed to apply to a one-dimensional meteorological file are evaluated for a METGM file. Climatological vertical gradients, comparison with numerical weather prediction output, and observed extreme gradients are leveraged to determine the final gradient criteria recommended by this study. The gradient criteria can be used to warn when a METGM file may contain untrustworthy meteorological fields and may warrant further investigation as to whether the METGM accurately represents the numerical weather prediction forecast on which it is based.