The structure of the coastal marine atmospheric surface layer is spatio-temporally heterogeneous and dependent on air/sea temperature differences as well as wind speed and wind direction. The synoptic and mesoscale circulations transiting the coastal area influence air/sea temperature differences and winds.

This paper will present the results of a study that seeks to correlate the recorded spatio-temporal structure of the marine atmospheric boundary layer to the spatial and temporal structure of the multi-scale atmospheric systems during eight days of the Wallops 2000 Microwave Propagation Measurement Experiment.

During these eight days, stable, well mixed, and unstable surface layers were observed during onshore, offshore, up shore, and down shore flow driven by the passage of mid latitude cyclones, a cold front, high pressure ridges, and weak pressure gradients.

During the multi-agency Wallops 2000 Microwave Propagation Measurement Experiment, a wealth of sea surface and upper air meteorological observations were collected by helicopter, rocketsonde, and boat in order to document the spatial and temporal structure of the coastal atmospheric boundary layer near the Virginia Eastern Shore.

Archived World Meteorological Organization observations and the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System have documented the synoptic scale forcing during the analysis period from April 28, 2000 through May 5, 2000. The Office of Coast Survey Chesapeake Bay Local Analysis and Prediction System and the Eta Data Assimilation System have recorded the mesoscale circulations.