Single-Station Assessments of the Synoptic-Scale Forcing on the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer.

Abstract

Knowledge of the large-scale vertical velocity is required to predict the evolution of the atmospheric planetary boundary layer (APBL). Since naval operations are often conducted in data sparse regions, single-station assessments of the vertical velocity are necessary. Data to evaluate such assessments were obtained from rawinsondes taken at San Nicolas Island, California. Vertical velocity estimates obtained by vertical integration of the moisture budget equation (Q-method) and by the adiabatic method were used to initialize an APBL 24-hour prediction model. RMS error statistics on predicted inversion height, potential temperature, and specific humidity were computed for the forecasts and compared to the RMS errors of a persistence forecast. Calculation of the vertical velocity by the Q-method showed the most promise. However, no single-station assessment method improved on the persistence forecasts. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA119331

Entities

People

  • John Patrick Gleason

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundary Layer
  • Equations
  • High Pressure
  • Inversion
  • Lapse Rate
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Military Research
  • Naval Operations
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Research Facilities
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Surface Temperature
  • Temperature Gradients
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology