The Shipboard Use of a Low-Level Atmospheric Thermograph in Fog and Stratus Investigations
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Authors
Norton, J.G.
Schacher, G.E.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1980-02
Date
February 1980
Publisher
American Meteorological Society (AMS)
Language
Abstract
A Low-Level Atmospheric Thermograph (LLAT) to obtain fine-scaled and detailed vertical temperature profiles to an altitude of 1000 m has been developed through a simple modification of the Sippican Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) system. Only minutes are required for converting the system from one mode to the other, so taking atmospheric soundings does not prevent the use of the same system for oceanic soundings. Changes in temperature gradient occurring within 3 m altitude intervals are detected, thus detail previously unavailable in low-level soundings is obtained routinely. The acoustic sounder and LLAT are complementary instruments for investigating marine layer dynamics. LLAT temperature profiles allow accurate interpretation of layer backscattering detected by the acoustic sounder. The acoustic sounder allows precise height calibration for the LLAT. Because the LLAT is readily available and simple to use, temperature profiles may be obtained opportunistically at sea as various marine layer events are encountered. Profiles obtained in this manner under conditions of fog and stratus formation and persistence are presented.
Type
Article
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Physics and Chemistry
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
6 p.
Citation
Journal of Applied Meteorology. Volume 19. (February 1980). p. 224-229.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.