Diurnal Circulation of the Bolivian Altiplano. Part I: Observations

Joseph Egger Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Luis Blacutt Laboratorio de la Fisica de la Atmósfera, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, La Paz, Bolivia

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Flavio Ghezzi Laboratorio de la Fisica de la Atmósfera, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, La Paz, Bolivia

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Richard Heinrich Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Philip Kolb Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Stephan Lämmlein Fachbereich Maschinenbau, Fachhochschule Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

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Martin Leeb Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Stephanie Mayer Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Eduardo Palenque Laboratorio de la Fisica de la Atmósfera, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, La Paz, Bolivia

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Joachim Reuder Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Wolfgang Schäper Astrium, Friedrichshafen, Germany

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Jan Schween Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Rene Torrez Laboratorio de la Fisica de la Atmósfera, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, La Paz, Bolivia

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Francesco Zaratti Laboratorio de la Fisica de la Atmósfera, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, La Paz, Bolivia

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Abstract

In July and August 2003 a field campaign was conducted to explore the diurnal circulation of the Bolivian Altiplano. Vertical soundings by remote-controlled aircraft yielded profiles of temperature, pressure, and humidity at six passes and in a valley. Pilot balloon observations provided wind profiles. Two permanent stations collected additional data. Typically, inflow toward the Altiplano commences a few hours after sunrise at about the time when the stable nocturnal layer near the ground is transformed by the solar heating into an almost neutrally stratified convective boundary layer. The depth of the inflow layer is comparable to but normally less than that of this boundary layer. There are indications of return flow aloft. The inflow continues at least until sunset. Moisture is imported at the passes leading to the Yungas in the east. Strong upvalley flows were found in the valley of the Rio de La Paz, which connects the wide canyon of La Paz with the tropical lowlands to the east. Inflow was absent at one of the passes despite favorable synoptic conditions. Cases of synoptically forced flows are presented as well where the diurnal signal is difficult to separate. A simple flow scheme is presented that fits the observations reasonably well.

Corresponding author address: Joseph Egger, Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Theresienstr. 37, München 80333, Germany. Email: J.Egger@LRZ.uni-muenchen.de

Abstract

In July and August 2003 a field campaign was conducted to explore the diurnal circulation of the Bolivian Altiplano. Vertical soundings by remote-controlled aircraft yielded profiles of temperature, pressure, and humidity at six passes and in a valley. Pilot balloon observations provided wind profiles. Two permanent stations collected additional data. Typically, inflow toward the Altiplano commences a few hours after sunrise at about the time when the stable nocturnal layer near the ground is transformed by the solar heating into an almost neutrally stratified convective boundary layer. The depth of the inflow layer is comparable to but normally less than that of this boundary layer. There are indications of return flow aloft. The inflow continues at least until sunset. Moisture is imported at the passes leading to the Yungas in the east. Strong upvalley flows were found in the valley of the Rio de La Paz, which connects the wide canyon of La Paz with the tropical lowlands to the east. Inflow was absent at one of the passes despite favorable synoptic conditions. Cases of synoptically forced flows are presented as well where the diurnal signal is difficult to separate. A simple flow scheme is presented that fits the observations reasonably well.

Corresponding author address: Joseph Egger, Meteorologisches Institut im Department für Physik der Universität München, Theresienstr. 37, München 80333, Germany. Email: J.Egger@LRZ.uni-muenchen.de

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