Plains Elevated Convection at Night

The PECAN (Plains Elevated Convection at Night) campaign is envisioned as a multi-agency project (NSF, NOAA, NASA, DOE) designed to advance the understanding of continental, nocturnal, warm-season precipitation. PECAN will focus on nocturnal convection in conditions over the Southern Great Plains with a stable boundary layer (SBL), a nocturnal low-level jet (NLLJ) and the largest CAPE (Convectively Available Potential Energy) located above the SBL. Thunderstorms are most common after sunset across this region in summer and much of the resulting precipitation falls from mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Nocturnal MCSs may produce heavy rainfall; their intensity is correlated with the NLLJ. To date, an accurate prediction and an in-depth understanding of elevated convection in this environment remains an elusive goal. -- (https://www.eol.ucar.edu/field_projects/pecan)

I participated on this project following my graduation from Millersville University. I was asked to join the project by Dr. Richard Clark and install a new 35 ft flux tower (pictured below) with second CSAT3 Sonic Anemometer. I was also asked to pass along the knowledge I had gained from other field experiments to the inexperienced undergraduate students and to act as a role model. I assisted the team in assembling the SODAR (SOnic Detection And Ranging) and conducted discussions about placement of tethered balloon winch and the operation of the tethered balloon. I installed 2 CSAT3 Sonic Anemometers, a radiometer, a LICOR gas analyzer, and a temperature and humidity sensor on the flux tower and educated undergraduates about careful construction and calibration. I also spent time discussing low level jet phenomena in the boundary layer with students and how to identify ideal conditions for it through forecast discussions. Spending time with expert meteorologists on forecasting techniques in the Plains certainly advanced my weather forecasting knowledge.