Field measurement and experimental study of wind speed profile during thunderstorms

This paper investigates the variation of wind velocity with height during thunderstorms. Wind velocities during thunderstorms are measured at five levels on a 150 m tall tower. Velocity profiles for more than 50 thunderstorms are studied. In the analysis, these profiles are classified into four types according to the profile shape and the height of the highest wind speed. It is observed that wind profiles during thunderstorms are affected by several factors with the major ones being distance from the thunderstorm cell centre, intensity of the storm and ground roughness. Experimental studies on the simulation of thunderstorm wind using an impinging jet are also carried out to further investigate the effect of these parameters. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.