Inter-comparison of retrieved wind fields from large-eddy simulations and radar measurements in the convective boundary layer

Estimates of the wind retrieved from boundary layer radars are inherently averaged in space and time. Using large eddy simulation (LES) results, we are able to examine to what extent these measurements are representative of the underlying parameters of the convective boundary layer (CBL) and how they are impacted by various averaging methodologies. Comparisons between an LES with real forcing and Boundary Layer Radar (BLR) wind retrievals have been analyzed. Good agreement between the LES winds and those estimated using the BLR is observed. After removing an instrumental bias, an estimate of the probability density function (PDF) and skewness of the radar and LES vertical velocity estimates was calculated as a function of height. The PDFs of vertical velocity and the height profiles of the skewness of vertical velocity exhibit good agreement for both the LES and BLR calculations and have the expected canonical structure.