SOME ASPECTS OF THE METEOROLOGY OF THE TROPICAL PACIFIC VIEWED FROM AN ATOLL
Abstract
A detailed climatological study of surface and upper-air data from Eniwetok Atoll was carried out in order to throw light upon various tropical oceanic problems including island influence, diurnal variations, and the nature of synoptic disturbances. Among results of the analysis are: (1) the atoll influence upon cloud or precipita tion over the atoll itself is hardly detectable and probably insignificant; (2) the diurnal var iation of the surface wind is almost exclusively the result of world-wide, atmospheric tidal mo tions, except for a possible speed increase of less than 0.1 kt near mid-day; (3) low cloudiness shows a diurnal variation whose range is less than 4% of total sky with maximum cover at 0700 local time; (4) precipitation occurrence shows a distinct early morning maximum; (5) in synoptic disturbances affecting the region, equatorward flow gives rise to a slight tendency for better than normal weather while poleward flow is asso ciated with markedly wetter weather; and (6) dis turbances, which make themselves felt primarily in the wind speed field, appear to contribute significantly to bad weather periods at Eniwetok.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0405627
Entities
People
- Ronald L. Lavoie