EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINMENT OF LOW-LEVEL COASTAL JETS
Loading...
Authors
Smith, Phillip B.
Subjects
low-level coastal jet
Advisors
Nuss, Wendell A.
Date of Issue
2019-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Over the summer of 2016, a total of 92 days were reviewed; 22 were determined to meet the requirements of this study for having the presence of a low-level coastal jet (LLCJ). Cross sections were taken to investigate the thermal structure and evidence of the vertical circulation pattern. In each of these examples, a clear jet is present just below a sloping inversion except for one. June 27-29 found the presence of a LLCJ but with no sloping inversion, and the jet was found to be above the inversion. Several factors about this case seem to contribute to its unique structure with the jet above the inversion. In order for this structure to occur, the thermal structure above the inversion becomes very important. Above the inversion, there is a stronger than normal thermal gradient that is not present in the other more typical LLCJ cases. This result suggests that a thermal gradient is a necessary condition for the development of the LLCJ no matter how it is developed.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology (MR)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
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.