Comparisons of CLOVAR windprofiler horizontal winds with radiosondes and CMC regional analyses

The Canadian (London, Ontario) VHF Atmospheric Radar (CLOVAR) windprofiler radar near London, Ontario is a relatively new tool for atmospheric wind me asurements (Hocking, 1994, 1997a). In order to verify its proper performanc e, vertical profiles of horizontal winds were compared with other wind esti mates available during the period January 1996 to November 1997. Comparison s with co-located radiosonde flights (a series of 29 flights in May-June 19 96, and another of 8 flights in May-July 1997) showed excellent agreement b etween the two techniques. In addition, comparisons with horizontal winds m easured by routine radiosonde balloons launched some 180 km south-west of L ondon, at White Lake (Detroit), and some 210 km east of London at Buffalo A irport, showed good agreement, considering the meteorological differences w hich would be expected at these ranges. A further comparison between winds measured with the radar, and winds extracted for London from Canadian Meteo rological Centre (CMC) regional analyses, showed very good agreement. These favourable intercomparisons have verified that the CLOVAR is a reliable to ol for observing horizontal winds, and have provided interesting insight in to the CMC model.