Surface Meteorology over the GATE A-Scale.
Abstract
A method of analysis of the surface motion field based on a mix of obversations from research ships, merchant ships and low cloud motion vectors from geostationary satellites is proposed in this paper. The proposed scheme permits a turning of wind with height between the cloud wind level and the surface. This turning is incorporated via a successive correction procedure which enables use to fully utilize the low-cloud winds. The method does not depend on a predetermined theory. The analysis of the surface wind field is carried out for the 100 days of the GARP ATLANTIC TROPICAL EXPERIMENT (GATE) for two observation periods per day (00Z, 12Z) over a wide domain. This paper illustrates 1) time averaged geometry of the motion field during GATE, and 2) time averaged fields of the zonal and the meridional stresses as well as of the curl of the wind stress. Finally, we examine the spectral analysis of the motion field and the stresses over the trade wind belts of the summer and winter hemisphere. Our study emphasizes the importance of two modes of oscillation, one around 3 to 6 days and the other around 10 to 15 days. This study emphasizes the possible usefulness of this approach during the GARP Global Experiment when a global coverage from geostationary satellites is expected.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA079285
Entities
People
- Ruby Krishnamurti
- T. N. Krishnamurti
Organizations
- Florida State University