An Analysis of Diurnal Wind Variability in the Santa Barbara Channel from Sodar Measurements

Abstract

Diurnal wind variability within the atmospheric boundary layer along the coast of the Santa Barbara Channel is studied by spectral analysis of SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) wind measurements. Rotary spectral analysis is used to investigate wind circulations and oscillations in the vertical. Power density spectral analysis is used to find frequencies with the greatest amount of kinetic energy. The results show a tendency for counterclockwise rotation in the lowest level and clockwise rotation in the upper levels. Some case show counterclockwise rotation in all levels. Most of the kinetic energy was concentrated at a diurnal frequency related to local sea and land breezes. However, a secondary kinetic energy maximum is consistently found at a sub- diurnal frequency. The source of this sub-diurnal energy in the vertical may be a mesoscale circulation, such as the Gaviota Eddy or the Catalina Eddy. Theses. (aw)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA215769

Entities

People

  • Douglas H. Scovil Jr

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • California
  • Computer Programs
  • Detection
  • Doppler Effect
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Geography
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Oceans
  • Refractive Index
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Terrain
  • Topography
  • Turbulence
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers