The Wessex Convection Experiment (WesCon)
LOCATION
University of Reading
Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH
Forecasting convection is a key problem in the UK and improving the model forecasts available for meteorologists is a priority. The “Wessex Convection experiment” (WesCon) which ran alongside the NERC funded project “WesCon – Observing the Evolving Structures of Turbulence” (WOEST) took place for three months (Jun-Aug) in the summer of 2023. This campaign sought to provide observations of convective clouds/storms to develop both existing and new modelling systems. In this talk I will describe the motivation and areas of emphasis for WesCon/WOEST in terms of deficiencies in current models and ongoing work to develop new, higher resolution, systems. I will describe the observational facilities deployed, summarise the campaign and highlight some interesting cases and preliminary results. Finally next steps will be discussed when the dataset will be used to improve the models by Met Office and NERC funded scientists as part of the joint ParaChute programme.
Speaker
Humphrey Lean
Humphrey has a BSc in Physics from the University of Bristol and PhD in low temperature physics (superconductivity) from the University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory. In his early career he worked as a postdoc in Cambridge on high temperature superconductivity and on the plasma fusion programme at Culham Laboratory. Since joining the Met Office Humphrey has worked on high resolution models, leading a project to develop km scale models during the 2000’s. He now leads the Met Office project to develop 100m scale (often referred to as Urban-scale) models. His main scientific interests are in the areas of convection, urban meteorology and orographic rain. He is a PI on the WesCon/WOEST campaign and is leading the Met Office high resolution modelling contribution to the WMO Paris 2024 Olympics Research Demonstration Project.
Registration
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
The Royal Meteorological Society has a number of local centres across the UK, where meetings are held throughout the year. The South East Local Centre are currently hosting meetings which can be attended in person or virtually. For further information on the local centre, upcoming events or to be added to the mailing list, please contact southeast@rmets.org
Forecasting convection is a key problem in the UK and improving the model forecasts available for meteorologists is a priority. The “Wessex Convection experiment” (WesCon) which ran alongside the NERC funded project “WesCon – Observing the Evolving Structures of Turbulence” (WOEST) took place for three months (Jun-Aug) in the summer of 2023. This campaign sought to provide observations of convective clouds/storms to develop both existing and new modelling systems. In this talk I will describe the motivation and areas of emphasis for WesCon/WOEST in terms of deficiencies in current models and ongoing work to develop new, higher resolution, systems. I will describe the observational facilities deployed, summarise the campaign and highlight some interesting cases and preliminary results. Finally next steps will be discussed when the dataset will be used to improve the models by Met Office and NERC funded scientists as part of the joint ParaChute programme.
Speaker
Humphrey Lean
Humphrey has a BSc in Physics from the University of Bristol and PhD in low temperature physics (superconductivity) from the University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory. In his early career he worked as a postdoc in Cambridge on high temperature superconductivity and on the plasma fusion programme at Culham Laboratory. Since joining the Met Office Humphrey has worked on high resolution models, leading a project to develop km scale models during the 2000’s. He now leads the Met Office project to develop 100m scale (often referred to as Urban-scale) models. His main scientific interests are in the areas of convection, urban meteorology and orographic rain. He is a PI on the WesCon/WOEST campaign and is leading the Met Office high resolution modelling contribution to the WMO Paris 2024 Olympics Research Demonstration Project.
Registration
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
The Royal Meteorological Society has a number of local centres across the UK, where meetings are held throughout the year. The South East Local Centre are currently hosting meetings which can be attended in person or virtually. For further information on the local centre, upcoming events or to be added to the mailing list, please contact southeast@rmets.org
