Sains Malaysiana 53(3)(2024): 487-499

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5303-02

Wind Profiles in Peninsular Malaysia: A Comprehensive Upper Air Analysis

(Profil Angin di Semenanjung Malaysia: Suatu Analisis Komprehensif Udara Atas)

MOHD SHAHIDI ALIAS^1,*, AZMIN SHAKRINE MOHD RAFIE¹, MOHD FAISAL ABDUL HAMID¹, EZANEE GIRES¹ & KHAIRUL DAHRI MOHD ARIS²

¹Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

²Aerospace Engineering Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology, 43900 Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 16 August 2023/Accepted: 16 February 2024

Abstract

Understanding the atmospheric properties and patterns is crucial in empowering Malaysia's national aerospace blueprint, national space, and legislation. While various policies have been enacted and implemented, there is a lack of information on the wind profile, specifically the upper air across Peninsular Malaysia. Realising the need to establish a standard guideline for national reference, future research, space-aerospace application, and legislation, this study was performed to develop the first wind profile analysis of upper air in Peninsular Malaysia. Relevant data from the Malaysian Meteorology Department was collected for analysis and evaluation. Specifically, a meteorology balloon attached with a sounding radiosonde was used to record data at 0000UTC (0800 h LT) and 1200UTC (2000 h LT) on the 15^th day of each month for 7 years (from 2015 to 2021) at the KLIA and Kuantan Meteorology Stations for the wind profiling analysis. The daily overall data collection was recorded accurately once the balloon's rising rate stabilises from vertical air current (katabatic or anabatic winds). Subsequently, the collected data were evaluated in terms of the minimum, maximum, and average wind speeds for each year and time. Finally, the average wind speed of each year and time were combined to generate the Peninsular Malaysia wind profile. Based on the results, the projected wind profile for both stations identified three peaks of discrete sine wave flow type with low-speed wind profile in Peninsular Malaysia. The three peaks amplified the highest air velocity, whereby the 1^st and 2^nd peaks were located at the troposphere layer from 9,000 m to 12,000 m altitude (average wind speed of 10.8 ms^-1) and 12,000 m to 18,000 m altitude (average wind speed of 13.7 ms^-1). The 3^rd peak was located at the stratosphere layer from 18,000 m to 32,000 m altitude (average wind speed of 15.2 ms^-1). Since East Malaysia is located on the same equatorial line, the wind profile is hypothetically the same and exhibits only slight differences. In short, the established wind profile of upper air in Peninsular Malaysia in this study would facilitate other future studies and assist long-term planning of Malaysia's airspace legislation.

Keywords: Meteorology; stratosphere; troposphere; wind profile; wind speed

Abstrak

Bagi memperkasakan pelan tindakan aeroangkasa negara, ruang angkasa lepas negara dan perundangan, memahami atmosfera menjadi penting bagi pereka bentuk, jurutera, penyelidik dan perundangan. Kerja ini bertujuan untuk menjana profil angin untuk Semenanjung Malaysia untuk rujukan negara, penyelidikan masa depan, aplikasi angkasa-aeroangkasa dan perundangan. Oleh kerana sumber yang sangat terhad untuk memahami atmosfera Semenanjung Malaysia, data udara daripada Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia telah dimanfaatkan. Proses dijalankan menggunakan belon meteorologi dengan radiosonde bunyi di Stesen Meteorologi KLIA (Semenanjung Barat) dan Stesen Meteorologi Kuantan (Semenanjung Timur). Data telah dikumpul selama 7 tahun pada setiap hari ke-15 setiap bulan dari 2015 hingga 2021. Data udara ini telah dinilai dan dianalisis berdasarkan ketinggian. Hasilnya, unjuran profil angin bagi kedua-dua stesen telah mengenal pasti 3 puncak aliran gelombang sinus jenis profil angin kelajuan rendah secara diskret di Semenanjung Malaysia. Puncak Pertama dan Puncak Kedua terletak di lapisan Troposfera antara 9,000 m hingga 12,000 m ketinggian dengan purata kelajuan angin 10.8 ms^-1 dan ketinggian 12,000 m hingga 18,000 m dengan kelajuan angin purata 13.7 ms^-1 manakala Puncak Ketiga terletak di Stratosfera, lapisan antara 18,000 m ke ketinggian 32,000 m dengan kelajuan angin purata 15.2 ms^-1. Semenanjung Malaysia dan Malaysia Timur berada di garisan khatulistiwa, oleh itu, hasilnya secara hipotesis serupa untuk kajian pendekatan masa hadapan untuk penyelidik, jurutera dan perundangan.

Kata kunci: Atmosfera; kelajuan angin; meteorologi; profil angin; Semenanjung Malaysia

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*Corresponding author; email: m.shahidi@unikl.edu.my