Plains Elevated Convection At Night (PECAN)

My Role

• Operated a mobile profiling platform (OU-NSSL CLAMPS1) and released radiosondes to observe nocturnal environments (e.g., MCSs, bores, low-level jets) in the Great Plains.
• Conduct research using these data for my PhD

Plains Elevated Convection At Night (PECAN)

The PECAN field campaign was an international project funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Energy.

Measurements were collected from 1 June to 15 July 2015 over a nine-state region during 31 intensive operational periods (IOPs) and 12 unofficial field operations. The primary goal of PECAN was to better understand nocturnal convection. Several important components related to nocturnal convection were identified for detailed study:

• mesoscale convective systems
• bores
• convection initiation
• nocturnal low-level jets (NLLJs).

My PhD work focused on PECAN observations of NLLJs. My role in PECAN was to operate the OU/NSSL CLAMPS1 platform to collect thermodynamic and kinematic profiles and launch radiosondes for all PECAN missions. The experience was grueling at times, but I learned a lot and got to ride in the NOAA P-3 aircraft around a thunderstorm, which is bucket list material.

Related publications

• The Great Plains low-level jet during PECAN: observed and simulated characteristics
• WRF model study of the Great Plains low-level jet: Effects of grid spacing and boundary layer parameterization