Measuring the Effects of Surface Features on the Atmospheric Boundary Layer with Instrumented Aircraft

Holmes, R.M. and Wright, J.L. (1978) Measuring the Effects of Surface Features on the Atmospheric Boundary Layer with Instrumented Aircraft. Journal of Applied Meteorology. 17(8):1163-1179.

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Abstract

The influence of mesoscale features (e.g., irrigation projects, desert regions, patches of forest, cities, etc.)
on the atmosphere is difficult to determine unless the sensors are very numerous or highly mobile. An instrumented
aircraft system permits such measurements and was used to determine the influence of lakes and
reservoirs, irrigation, a group of forested hills, a small city, and an area of (dry land) nonirrigated agricultural
land on the vertical and horizontal characteristics of the lowest layer of the atmosphere. Studies were conducted
over portions of southern Alberta, and southern Idaho. Strong sensible heat advection was found
to cause high evaporation from a small lake with the formation of a cool air layer which extended well
beyond the lee side of the lake. The flux of water vapor over irrigated land was essentially double that over
surrounding nonirrigated areas. A small city produced a heat island which delayed development of a temperature
inversion for up to 9 h.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0250
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:51
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2017 22:37
Item ID:	235
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/235