Coastal Boundary Layer and Refractivity Measurements Using the Ground- Based High Resolution Interferometer Sounder (GB-HIS)
Abstract
Timesections of potential temperature, dewpoint temperature, modified radar refractivity (M), and the vertical derivative of the modified radar refractivity (dM/dZ) from radiosondes and the Ground-based High Resolution Interferometer Sounder (GB-HIS) during three experiments are studied to analyze refractive effects in the coastal boundary layer and evaluate GB-HIS performance. In May of 1991 and 1992, the GB-HIS instrument was deployed on the Research Vessel Point Sur during research cruises off the central California coast. In August and September of 1993, the GB-HIS was deployed during the Variation of Coastal Atmospheric Refractivity (VOCAR) experiment at the Naval Air Station in Point Mugu, California. Comparisons of radiosonde observations with the GB-HIS is capable of depicting large-scale air mass changes in the coastal boundary layer with high temporal resolution. As a result, the general location of some refractive layers in the coastal boundary layer can be determined with the GB-HIS data. Small scale features in the moisture timesections from the raob data were not resolved by the GB-HIS with significant skill. The inability of the GB-HIS to capture the vertical moisture gradients seriously limits its ability to monitor refractive conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA277980
Entities
People
- Roy R. Ledesma
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School