KITcube – a mobile observation platform for convection studies deployed during HyMeX

Abstract

With the increase of spatial resolution of weather forecast models to order O(1 km), the need for adequate observations for model validation becomes evident. Therefore, we designed and constructed the "KITcube", a mobile observation platform for convection studies of processes on the meso-? scale. The KITcube consists of in-situ and remote sensing systems which allow measuring the energy balance components of the Earth's surface at different sites; the mean atmospheric conditions by radiosondes, GPS station, and a microwave radiometer; the turbulent characteristics by a sodar and wind lidars; and cloud and precipitation properties by use of a cloud radar, a micro rain radar, disdrometers, rain gauges, and an X-band rain radar. The KITcube was deployed fully for the first time on the French island of Corsica during the HyMeX (Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean eXperiment) field campaign in 2012. In this article, the components of KITcube and its implementation on the island are described. Moreover, results from one of the HyMeX intensive observation periods are presented to show the capabilities of KITcube.

Keywords

• convection
• hymex
• observation platform