An Observation System Used To Study the Marine Boundary Layer Over the Bay of Bengal During Summer Monex 79

Abstract

An observation system used to study the marine boundary layer over the Bay of Bengal at Digha Beach, West Bengal, India, as part of the International Monsoon Experiments (MONEX 79) is described in this paper. It was a portable system that was designed to facilitate case in transportation, to be quick to assemble, independent and self-sufficient in power supply, and to operate in remote sites for long periods of time. The experiments consisted of measurements of atmospheric turbulence and fluxes of momentum, heat, and water vapor from a 10 m high coastal meteorological tower. Mean meteorological parameters were measured with an automated electronic weather station. Wind speed and direction profiles in the planetary boundary layer were obtained with pilot balloon soundings.