System and method for presenting wind speed information

• US 7,705,769 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DTN, LLC (TBG AG)
• Original Assignee: Weather Central, Inc. (The Weather Company)
• Inventors: Marsh, Victor W., Kelly, Terence F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor; John B
• Application Number:
  US12/363,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 342/26.R, 342 26 A- 26 D, 342179-183, 340/905, 340/963, 340/980
• US Class Current: 342/26.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/951 ground based
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/04 giving only separate indications of the variables measured
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A system and method for presenting wind speed information in a manner so as to be easily understood and appreciated by viewers of televised weather report presentations and the like. Wind speed information is presented as two or three-dimensional wind speed contour lines, delineating geographic areas corresponding to different wind speeds, overlaid on a geographic map display either alone, or in combination with radar reflectivity information. Wind velocity information received from a weather radar system, such as NEXRAD, relative to the weather radar is converted to absolute wind speed information for display.

Claims

1. A method of presenting wind speed information, comprising:

(a) receiving wind data defining wind detected for a geographic area;

(b) deriving from the wind data wind speed contour lines delineating regions within the geographic area at which wind speeds within a selected range of wind speeds have been detected; and

(c) displaying the wind speed contour lines overlaid on a graphical representation of the geographic area to provide a wind speed information presentation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wind data includes wind velocity data relative to a radar site and wherein deriving the wind speed contour lines includes converting the wind velocity data relative to the radar site to absolute wind speed information and deriving the wind speed contour lines from the absolute wind speed information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving wind velocity data relative to a radar site includes receiving wind velocity data from a NEXRAD weather radar source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the wind speed contour lines includes displaying an indication of the wind speeds delineated thereby.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein displaying an indication of the wind speeds delineated by the wind speed contour lines includes displaying the wind speed contour lines in colors indicating the wind velocities delineated thereby.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising additionally:

(a) receiving weather radar reflectivity data indicating precipitation detected for the geographic area;

(b) deriving a graphical representation of the received weather radar reflectivity data;

(c) displaying the graphical representation of the reflectivity data overlaid on the graphical representation of the geographic area; and

(d) wherein displaying the wind speed contour lines includes displaying the wind speed contour lines overlaid on the graphical representation of the reflectivity data and the graphical representation of the geographic area.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical representation of the geographic area is a computer generated map display.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising additionally broadcasting the wind speed information presentation as part of a televised weather report presentation.

9. A system for generating a wind speed information presentation, comprising:

(a) a geography database including graphical representations of geographic areas;

(b) a graphical display device; and

(c) a computer system connected to the geography database to retrieve graphical representations of geographic areas therefrom, to the graphical display device, and to a source of wind data and adapted to receive wind data defining wind detected for a geographic area from the source of wind data, to derive from the wind data wind speed contour lines delineating regions within the geographic area at which wind speeds within a selected range of wind speeds have been detected; and

to display on the graphical display device the wind speed contour lines overlaid on a graphical representation of the geographic area to provide a wind speed information presentation.

10. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 9 wherein the wind speed data received from the source of wind data includes wind velocity data relative to a radar site and wherein the computer system is adapted to convert the wind velocity data relative to the radar site to absolute wind speed information and to derive the wind speed contour lines from the absolute wind velocity information.

11. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 10 wherein the computer system is connected to a NEXRAD weather radar source to receive wind velocity data relative to a NEXRAD radar site therefrom.

12. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 9 wherein the computer system is adapted to display on the graphical display device an indication of the wind speeds delineated by the wind velocity contour lines.

13. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 12 wherein the computer system is adapted to display on the graphical display device an indication of the wind speeds delineated by the wind speed contour lines by displaying the wind speed contour lines in colors indicating the wind speeds delineated thereby.

14. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 9 wherein the computer system is connected to a weather radar system and is further adapted to receive from the weather radar system weather radar reflectivity data indicating precipitation detected for the geographic area, to derive a graphical representation of the received weather radar reflectivity data, and to display on the graphical display the graphical representation of the reflectivity data overlaid on the graphical display of the geographic area with the wind speed contour lines displayed overlaid on the graphical representation of the reflectivity data and the graphical display of the geographic area.

15. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 9 wherein the geography database includes computer generated maps of geographic areas and wherein the graphical representation of the geographic area displayed on the graphical display device is a computer generated map display.

16. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 9 wherein the graphical display device is a computer monitor device.

17. The system for generating a wind speed information presentation of claim 9 wherein the computer system is connected to a broadcast system and is adapted to send the wind speed information presentation to the broadcast system for broadcasting the wind speed information presentation as part of a televised weather report presentation.