Evaporation Duct Height Measurements in the Mid-Atlantic

Atmospheric boundary layer measurements were made in the Mid-Atlantic aboard USNS KANE during February and March 1978. The results were analyzed to obtain Monin-Obukhov similarity parameters and EM wave train propagation characteristics within the evaporation ducts that overlay the sea surface. Evap...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fairall,C W, Davidson,K L, Schacher,G E, Houlihan,T M
Other Authors: NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE NSTL STATION MS
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1978
Subjects:
Meteorology
Radiofrequency Wave Propagation
*DUCTS
MEASUREMENT
ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
BOUNDARY LAYER
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
WIND VELOCITY
EVAPORATION
PACIFIC OCEAN
SURFACE TEMPERATURE
RADIO TRANSMISSION
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
HEIGHT
HUMIDITY
RESEARCH SHIPS
Evaporation ducts
Fluctuation
Kane
Pacific
North Atlantic
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA091851
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA091851
Description
Summary:Atmospheric boundary layer measurements were made in the Mid-Atlantic aboard USNS KANE during February and March 1978. The results were analyzed to obtain Monin-Obukhov similarity parameters and EM wave train propagation characteristics within the evaporation ducts that overlay the sea surface. Evaporation duct heights (Z*) varied between 2 and 25 meters during the cruise; the mean Z* value was 15 meters. In one instance, Z* changed from 3 meters to 20 meters in about 4 hours following a frontal passage. A comparison of the results obtained using a simplified 'bulk method' with those yielded by the established (but technically taxing) 'profile method' did not convincingly establish that the bulk method could consistently predict accurate values of Z*. Two factors predominate in controlling the duct height Z*: they are relative humidity and the air-sea temperature difference. Barring the development of radical new measurement techniques, the results of this work indicate that a program for routinely measuring Z* is most likely to be obstructed by shortfalls in the quality of air-sea temperature difference data. (Author)

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