Factors influencing the structures of the Monterey Bay sea breeze
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Authors
Duvall, Emily M.
Subjects
Sea breeze
Monterey Bay
Synoptic-Scale flow
Inversion
Thermal gradient
Cloud cover
Complex terrain
Monterey Bay
Synoptic-Scale flow
Inversion
Thermal gradient
Cloud cover
Complex terrain
Advisors
Nuss, Wendell A.
Date of Issue
2004-03
Date
March 2004
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Monterey Bay sea breeze varies because of the influence of features such as inversions, clouds, synopticscale flow, and topography. The sea breeze is important because it impacts fire weather, air pollution, agriculture, and aviation operations, among other things. Analyses are conducted using a multi-quadric based program, which incorporates aircraft data, surface observations, and profiler data, to investigate the Monterey Bay sea breeze during 01-31 August 2003. Factors including inversions, cloud cover, amount of heating, distribution of heating, synoptic-scale flow, and topography are studied to determine their influence on the sea breeze. Six days are selected that best illustrate the factors that influence the structure of the Monterey Bay sea breeze. Results show that offs hore flow weakened the strength of the sea breeze and decreased the depth. A cooling trend in surface temperatures at the end of August also weakened the strength of the sea breezes and decreased the depth. Clouds are present during this period, which influenced the amount of heating, and consequently, the sea breeze response. The presence of a marine layer weakened the thermal gradient that in turn, weakened the sea breeze circulation.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 61 p. : ill. (some col.), maps
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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.