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Cloud and boundary layer structure over San Nicolas Island during FIREThe temporal evolution of the structure of the marine boundary layer and of the associated low-level clouds observed in the vicinity of the San Nicolas Island (SNI) is defined from data collected during the First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Marine Stratocumulus Intense Field Observations (IFO) (July 1 to 19). Surface, radiosonde, and remote-sensing measurements are used for this analysis. Sounding from the Island and from the ship Point Sur, which was located approximately 100 km northwest of SNI, are used to define variations in the thermodynamic structure of the lower-troposphere on time scales of 12 hours and longer. Time-height sections of potential temperature and equivalent potential temperature clearly define large-scale variations in the height and the strength of the inversion and periods where the conditions for cloud-top entrainment instability (CTEI) are met. Well defined variations in the height and the strength of the inversion were associated with a Cataline Eddy that was present at various times during the experiment and with the passage of the remnants of a tropical cyclone on July 18. The large-scale variations in the mean thermodynamic structure at SNI correlate well with those observed from the Point Sur. Cloud characteristics are defined for 19 days of the experiment using data from a microwave radiometer, a cloud ceilometer, a sodar, and longwave and shortwave radiometers. The depth of the cloud layer is estimated by defining inversion heights from the sodar reflectivity and cloud-base heights from a laser ceilometer. The integrated liquid water obtained from NOAA's microwave radiometer is compared with the adiabatic liquid water content that is calculated by lifting a parcel adiabatically from cloud base. In addition, the cloud structure is characterized by the variability in cloud-base height and in the integrated liquid water.
Document ID
19910001202
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Albrecht, Bruce A.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park., United States)
Fairall, Christopher W.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park., United States)
Syrett, William J.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park., United States)
Schubert, Wayne H.
(Colorado State Univ. Fort Collins., United States)
Snider, Jack B.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Langley Research Center, FIRE Science Results 1988
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
91N10515
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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