High Frequency Analyses of Coastal Meteorological Phenomena Affecting Refractivity
Abstract
An eastern Pacific Ocean survey was conducted 7-10 May 1991 along the California coast to determine temporal and spatial variability in refractive conditions. Refractive profiles obtained from high frequency radiosonde measurements at shore sites and a ship plus continuous shipboard surface measurements found a high degree of refractive variability to be present associated with frontal passage. Local and synoptic scale conditions were found to have a major impact on the degree of refractive variability. The variability was in the occurrence of elevated layers and the evaporation duct height. With passage of the cold front, the evaporation duct height increased from values that would not affect shipboard sensors to those that would. Survey soundings and refractive profiles were also compared with subjective refractive analyses and forecast profiles from the Navy Atmospheric Boundary Layer model. In situ measurements revealed significant variability in refractive profiles that were not revealed in the model forecasts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA246383
Entities
People
- Anthony A. Martinez
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School