An Investigation of the Meteorology, Physics, and Chemistry of Marine Boundary Layer Processes.
Abstract
During late September and early October 1976, Calspan participated in CEWCOM-76, a research cruise aboard the Naval Postgraduate School's R/V ACANIA to investigate marine boundary-layer phenomena in the offshore waters of southern California. The objective of the four-week cruise was to investigate marine fog, aerosol characteristics, and evolutionary processes which affect optical propagation in the marine atmosphere. Measurements of visibility, scattering coefficient, winds, air and sea surface temperatures, dew point, total particulate concentration, CCN activity spectra, and fog microphysics were obtained, and hi-vol samples of the ambient aerosols and discrete samples of fog water were collected for later chemical analysis. The data were analyzed to provide descriptions of the microphysics and chemistry of marine fogs and the areal distribution of 'clear air' visibility, CCN activity spectra, and aerosol concentration and composition in a 150,000 km(2) area extending approximately 500 km SW of Los Angeles. The data are compared with those obtained on previous investigations conducted off both the East and West Coasts. In addition, limited experiments were conducted to determine if laser beam enlargement could be detected using a low-power laser over short propagation paths and if such measurements might be useful in assessing optical parameters such as size and concentration of aerosols and levels of turbulence in the marine boundary layer. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA047613
Entities
People
- C. W. Rogers
- D. W. Gaucher
- E. J. Mack
- K. R. Piech
- U. Katz
Organizations
- Calspan