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Wind Profilers

Overview

  A wind profiler is a type of equipment used to observe upper-air wind speed/direction. These units emit radio waves, which are scattered as a result of turbulent atmospheric density. The frequency of returning waves is shifted due to the movement of the scattering air mass (i.e., the Doppler effect), allowing analysis to determine wind direction/speed. Radio waves are radiated upward in five directions, allowing observation of wind components on a three-dimensional basis.

  The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has been conducting wind profiler observation since April 2001. At present, a nationwide network of 33 wind profilers is in operation. Observation data from the relevant sites are collected in real time at the central monitoring station of JMA headquarters for prediction (supporting the provision of precise weather forecasts) and other purposes. This comprehensive system of instruments and processing servers is collectively referred to as the Local Weather Monitoring System, or WINDAS (the WInd profiler Network and Data Acquisition System).

Wind profiler monitoring principles

Wind profiler monitoring principles

Wind profiler observation stations (Takamatsu)
WWind profiler observation stations (Rumoi, Fukui, Owase, Shimizu)

Wind profiler observation stations

  These images show wind profiler stations. Antennas in snowy districts are covered with snow domes.

Observation Data

  Wind profilers are used to observe upper-air wind at altitude intervals of 300 m every 10 minutes. Wind direction/speed is observed up to altitudes of 12 km from the surface (depending on weather conditions).

  Wind profilers observe the movement of raindrops, which scatter radio waves more than atmospheric turbulence. Wind direction/speed can also be observed as raindrops are blown by wind. The vertical speed of raindrops is taken as their falling velocity.

Wind Profiler Observation Sites

List of wind profiler sites
Region ID Station Location Latitude
(degree)
Longitude
(degree)
Altitude
(m)
47406RumoiRumoi-shi, Hokkaido 43°56.8′141°37.9′23
47417ObihiroObihiro-shi, Hokkaido 42°55.3′143°12.7′38
47423MuroranMuroran-shi, Hokkaido 42°19.4′140°58.2′3
47585MiyakoMiyako-shi, Iwate 39°38.8′141°58.0′43
47587SakataSakata-shi, Yamagata 38°54.5′139°50.6′3
47590SendaiSendai-shi, Miyagi 38°15.7′140°53.8′39
47570WakamatsuAizuwakamatsu-shi, Fukushima 37°29.3′139°54.6′212
47612TakadaJoetsu-shi, Niigata 37°06.4′138°14.8′13
47616FukuiFukui-shi, Fukui 36°03.3′136°13.3′9
47629MitoMito-shi, Ibaraki 36°22.9′140°28.1′29
47626KumagayaKumagaya-shi, Saitama 36°09.0′139°22.8′30
47674KatsuuraKatsuura-shi, Chiba 35°09.0′140°18.7′12
47678HachijojimaHachijo-machi, Hachijojima, Tokyo 33°07.3′139°46.7′152
47640KawaguchikoFujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 35°30.0′138°45.7′860
47656ShizuokaShizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 34°58.6′138°24.2′14
47636NagoyaNagoya-shi, Aichi 35°10.1′136°57.9′51
47663OwaseOwase-shi,Mie 34°04.2′136°11.6′15
47795MihamaMihama-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama 33°53.6′135°07.5′9
47746TottoriTottori-shi, Tottori 35°31.9′134°12.0′6
47755HamadaHamada-shi, Shimane 34°53.8′132°04.2′20
47891TakamatsuTakamatsu-shi, Kagawa 34°19.1′134°03.2′9
47893KochiKochi-shi, Kochi 33°34.1′133°33.0′3
47898ShimizuTosashimizu-shi, Kochi 32°43.4′133°00.6′31
47800IzuharaTsushima-shi, Nagasaki 34°09.2′129°13.4′130
47805HiradoHirado-shi, Nagasaki 33°21.6′129°33.1′58
47815OitaOita-shi, Oita 33°14.2′131°37.2′5
47819KumamotoKumamoto-shi, Kumamoto 32°48.8′130°42.4′38
47822NobeokaNobeoka-shi, Miyazaki 32°34.9′131°39.5′19
47848IchikiIchikikushikino-shi, Kagoshima 31°42.5′130°19.3′25
47836YakushimaYakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima 30°23.0′130°39.5′36
47909NazeAmami-shi, Kagoshima 28°22.8′129°29.7′3
47945MinamidaitojimaMinamidaito-son, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa 25°49.8′131°13.7′16
47912YonagunijimaYonaguni-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 24°28.0′123°00.6′30

  (Latitude and longitude coordinates conform to the World Geodetic System.)

Wind Profiler Observation Network (As of April 2014)

Wind profiler observation network (as of April 2014)

Examples of Wind Profiler

Passage of pressure ridges/troughs

  Wind profiler data provide a picture of passing upper-air pressure ridges and troughs. As pressure ridges pass from west to east, the wind direction gradually changes from northwest to southwest; as troughs pass in the same direction, it gradually changes from southwest to northwest.

Wind profiler Naze station 13:00 ~ 19:00 JST, 28 June 2015

Processing and utilization of observation data

Weather map 15:00 JST, 28 June 2015

Upper-air pressure trough passage
Upper: Wind profiler data from Naze station 13:00 – 19:00 JST, 28 June 2015*
Bottom: Weather map 15:00 JST, 28 June 2015

*The legend in the figure on the upper represents westerly winds (i.e., from left to right in the figure). Warm colors represent southerly winds (south to north), while cold colors represent northerly winds (north to south).

Passage of fronts

  Wind profiler data provide a picture of passing fronts and their three-dimensional structure. As warm fronts pass, the wind direction gradually changes to southerly; as cold fronts pass, it gradually changes to northerly.

Wind profiler Ichiki station 0:00 ~ 24: 00 JST, 12 May 2015

Processing and utilization of observation data

Weather map 9:00 JST, 12 May 2015

Cold-front passage
Upper: Wind profiler data from Ichiki station 0:00 – 24: 00 JST, 12 May 2015*
Lower: Weather map 9:00 JST, 12 May 2015

*The legend in the figure on the upper represents westerly winds (i.e., from left to right in the figure). Warm colors represent southerly winds (south to north), while cold colors represent northerly winds (north to south).

Passage of typhoons (tropical cyclones)

  Wind profiler data help to clarify the central position and structure of typhoons. Wind moving counterclockwise indicates a typhoon passing to the east of the wind profiler station, while clockwise movement indicates passage to the west. The vertically homogeneous wind structure observed for typhoons maintaining strength tends to collapse when strength is lost (e.g., upon landfall).

Wind profiler Kochi station 21:00 16 ~ 3:00 JST, 17 July 2015
Wind profiler Takamatsu station 2:00 ~ 8:00 JST, 17 July 2015
Weather map 3:00 JST, 17 July 2015

Typhoon passage
Upper left: Wind profiler data from Kochi station 21:00 16 – 3:00 JST, 17 July 2015
Upper right: Wind profiler data from Takamatsu station 2:00 – 8:00 JST, 17 July 2015
Lower: Weather map 3:00 JST, 17 July 2015

Notes on Observation Data

  Dry atmospheric conditions make it difficult to obtain observation data from wind profilers because the accompanying turbulent density tends to be low. In addition, observation data obtained using wind profilers are checked in quality control processes. Blank areas on data charts correspond to dry-air regions or data removal in quality control.

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