Extended Abstract (2.6M)5.8
Mean structure and variability of the low-level jet across the central Gulf of California from NOAA WP-3D flight level observations during the North American Monsoon Experiment
John F. Mejia, CIMMS/Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; and M. Douglas
This presentation describes lower tropospheric features over the Gulf of California, Mexico using NOAA WP-3D aircraft flight level observations made during July and August 2004 as part of the North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME). The WP-3D was flown to capture the 3-dimensional structure of the low level flow during both "strong" and "normal" monsoon flow conditions in this region. Ten flights were carried out during NAME; they were focused mainly on measuring moisture fluxes and the low-level jet (LLJ) flow along the Gulf of California. The low-level flow over the Gulf of California exhibits a low-level jet structure that is characteristic during the summertime and its stronger events appear to transport a significant amount of moisture into the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. We compare analyses produced by models (NCEP regional reanalysis) and the NAME sounding network observations to the aircraft measurements made on the flight days. From comparison of the aircraft data with the NAME sounding network observations we can determine how accurately the sounding network tends to estimate the actual moisture flux over the Gulf of California
Supplementary URL: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/pacs/web/html/NAME/ENGLISH/P3/indexP3.html
Session 5, atmospheric and oceanic processes
Thursday, 13 January 2005, 8:30 AM-11:45 AM
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