Search Results
Abstract
Studies of wind over complex terrain have been conducted at three times and two locations in Northern California. Instrumentation included conventional cup-vane anemometers and optical anemometers with spatial averaging over path lengths of 0.6-1 km. Autospectra of the path-normal component of wind from the cup-vane and optical anemometers show consistent differences in slope for periods shorter than four hours. The spectral differences are associated more with changes in wind direction than with changes in wind speed.
Abstract
Studies of wind over complex terrain have been conducted at three times and two locations in Northern California. Instrumentation included conventional cup-vane anemometers and optical anemometers with spatial averaging over path lengths of 0.6-1 km. Autospectra of the path-normal component of wind from the cup-vane and optical anemometers show consistent differences in slope for periods shorter than four hours. The spectral differences are associated more with changes in wind direction than with changes in wind speed.
Abstract
Ship-based measurements in June 1994 provided information about ship-track clouds and associated atmospheric environment observed from below cloud levels that provide a perspective different from satellite and aircraft measurements. Surface measurements of latent and sensible heat fluxes, sea surface temperatures, and meteorological profiles with free and tethered balloons provided necessary input conditions for models of ship-track formation and maintenance. Remote sensing measurements showed a coupling of ship plume dynamics and entrainment into overlaying clouds. Morphological and dynamic effects were observed on clouds unique to the ship tracks. These morphological changes included lower cloud bases early in the ship-track formation, evidence of raised cloud bases in more mature tracks, sometimes higher cloud tops, thin cloud-free regions paralleling the tracks, and often stronger radar returns. The ship-based lidar aerosol measurements revealed that ship plumes often interacted with the overlying clouds in an intermittent rather than continuous manner. These observations imply that more must be learned about ship-track dynamics before simple relations between cloud condensation nuclei and cloud brightness can be developed.
Abstract
Ship-based measurements in June 1994 provided information about ship-track clouds and associated atmospheric environment observed from below cloud levels that provide a perspective different from satellite and aircraft measurements. Surface measurements of latent and sensible heat fluxes, sea surface temperatures, and meteorological profiles with free and tethered balloons provided necessary input conditions for models of ship-track formation and maintenance. Remote sensing measurements showed a coupling of ship plume dynamics and entrainment into overlaying clouds. Morphological and dynamic effects were observed on clouds unique to the ship tracks. These morphological changes included lower cloud bases early in the ship-track formation, evidence of raised cloud bases in more mature tracks, sometimes higher cloud tops, thin cloud-free regions paralleling the tracks, and often stronger radar returns. The ship-based lidar aerosol measurements revealed that ship plumes often interacted with the overlying clouds in an intermittent rather than continuous manner. These observations imply that more must be learned about ship-track dynamics before simple relations between cloud condensation nuclei and cloud brightness can be developed.
Abstract
An exploratory field experiment was undertaken to determine the practicality of a method specifically designed to obtain the optical properties of aerosols as they relate to the earth's radiation balance. The method requires a basic set of data consisting of the vertical distribution of aerosol concentrations, size distribution, optical depth, and net radiation fluxes. From these data radiation absorptions are determined, and effective aerosol refractive indices consistent with the actual absorption are deduced through the application of precision radiative transfer calculations. The results of 11 experiment episodes involving a combined aircraft and surface-based measurement system are described. The episodes took place in an arid desert region located near Blythe, California, and in a semiarid agricultural region located near Big Spring, Texas. Part I deals with the physical-numerical depiction of such aerosol properties as optical depth, size distribution, and vertical profiles of concentration. Part II will deal with the analysis of measurements of the radiation field leading to the deduction of the effective aerosol refractive index compatible with the absorption of solar radiation.
Abstract
An exploratory field experiment was undertaken to determine the practicality of a method specifically designed to obtain the optical properties of aerosols as they relate to the earth's radiation balance. The method requires a basic set of data consisting of the vertical distribution of aerosol concentrations, size distribution, optical depth, and net radiation fluxes. From these data radiation absorptions are determined, and effective aerosol refractive indices consistent with the actual absorption are deduced through the application of precision radiative transfer calculations. The results of 11 experiment episodes involving a combined aircraft and surface-based measurement system are described. The episodes took place in an arid desert region located near Blythe, California, and in a semiarid agricultural region located near Big Spring, Texas. Part I deals with the physical-numerical depiction of such aerosol properties as optical depth, size distribution, and vertical profiles of concentration. Part II will deal with the analysis of measurements of the radiation field leading to the deduction of the effective aerosol refractive index compatible with the absorption of solar radiation.
Abstract
The experimental results in Part I are used in the theoretical interpretation of the radiation flux measurements which were taken with an aircraft. The absorption term of the complex refractive index of aerosols is estimated to be approximately 0.01 for a real part of 1.5 for the wavelength bandwidth 0.32–0.68 μm. A regional variation in the refractive index is noted.
Atmospheric heating and cooling rates due to aerosol and molecular absorption in the solar and terrestrial wavelengths are determined from the radiation flux measurements. The magnitudes of these rates are compared and their relative importance is discussed.
Abstract
The experimental results in Part I are used in the theoretical interpretation of the radiation flux measurements which were taken with an aircraft. The absorption term of the complex refractive index of aerosols is estimated to be approximately 0.01 for a real part of 1.5 for the wavelength bandwidth 0.32–0.68 μm. A regional variation in the refractive index is noted.
Atmospheric heating and cooling rates due to aerosol and molecular absorption in the solar and terrestrial wavelengths are determined from the radiation flux measurements. The magnitudes of these rates are compared and their relative importance is discussed.
