Extended Abstract (676K)5.1
Evolution of the Moisture Field During the Development of the Daytime Convective Boundary Layer
Tammy M. Weckwerth, NCAR, Boulder, CO; and L. J. Bennett, C. Kiemle, A. M. Blyth, C. Flamant, and Y. P. Richardson
The International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) was designed to sample the three-dimensional time-varying moisture field to better understand convective processes. Numerous research and operational water vapor measuring systems and retrievals were operated in the U.S. Southern Great Plains from 13 May to 25 June 2002. This was done in combination with more traditional observations of wind and temperature. Boundary-layer evolution studies were designed to maximize observational overlap from multiple instruments to better understand the development of the moisture distribution during the evolution of the daytime convective boundary layer. Three datasets on boundary-layer evolution were collected during IHOP (14 June, 21 June and 25 June 2002). The evolution of the moisture profiles from the Scanning Raman Lidar are used as the foundation for evaluating observations from other diverse datasets, including S-Pol radar with refractivity measurements; two Doppler on Wheels (DOW) mobile radars; P-3 aircraft with Leandre II water vapor Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL); DLR water vapor DIAL onboard the German Falcon; University of Wyoming King Air in situ measurements; a tethersonde; Integrated Sounding System (ISS) with a wind profiler, sodar and RASS; serial ascents from four nearby radiosondes; AERI interferometer; mobile radiometer and mobile and fixed mesonets. These three days comprise highly-coordinated data collection periods from before sunrise through the development of the convective boundary layer. Preliminary analyses suggest a great deal of spatial and temporal variability in the moisture distribution on the three days. Low-level bores and internal gravity waves may have an impact on the transition from the nocturnal boundary layer to the daytime convective boundary layer. A comprehensive description of the development of the moisture field, in particular, during the early morning hours will be presented.
Session 5, Lidar Applications in Boundary Layer, Dispersion, and Wind Studies
Thursday, 18 January 2007, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, 207B
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