Origins of Convective Activity Over Panama

Abstract

Satellite-derived outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data were used to examine convective variability over the Panama region. Time series analysis of the area-averaged daily OLR data for 1984 and 1985 revealed a persistent 12-d oscillation in convective activity during each season. Composite analyses of OLR data for the area 120W-40W and 35S-35N for the 1984 dry (1 January-9 May) and wet (10 May-4 December) seasons showed this oscillation extends beyond Panama and the Central America region into the eastern Pacific. Composite diagrams of u- and v-wind components and geopotential heights were constructed using daily upper-air soundings from Albrook AFS, Panama in order to infer a vertical structure to the oscillation. These composites showed well-defined trends in all three variables associated with each phase of the 12-d oscillation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA218026

Entities

People

  • Christopher S. Strager

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Case Studies
  • Central America
  • Cloud Cover
  • Data Sets
  • Grids
  • Intensity
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Panama Canal
  • Periodic Variations
  • Ridges
  • Satellite Imaging
  • Students
  • Tropical Cyclones
  • United States Southern Command

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • Space