Research Abstracts 1992-1993: Report No. 93-04

Barbour, P.L. and S. N. Walker, "Development of a Synoptic Weather Pattern Climatology of the Pacific Northwest," OSU Wind Research Cooperative, WRC Report No. 93-04, October 30, 1993, 180 pp., $45.00

This report describes the details that were involved in producing a circulation pattern climatology for the Pacific Northwest. The approach/methodology used is totally objective, using computer controlled algorithms that rigidly classify circulation patterns or map-types based on a set of established criteria and can be easily applied to other regions of the United States. This circulation pattern climatology will be used in future work to analyze surface wind characteristics, perform climatological adjustment of short term wind data, prepare wind forecasts, to identify the circulation patterns associated with specific events such as extreme winds and to better characterize the turbulent and shear properties at specific sites.