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contributor authorMelfi, S. H.
contributor authorPalm, Stephen P.
date accessioned2017-06-09T16:55:04Z
date available2017-06-09T16:55:04Z
date copyright2012/01/01
date issued2011
identifier issn0022-4928
identifier otherams-76466.pdf
identifier urihttp://onlinelibrary.yabesh.ir/handle/yetl/4218916
description abstractinear features in a clear convective boundary layer (CBL) over the North Atlantic Ocean were studied during a weak cold air outbreak using a down-looking airborne lidar. Sequential lidar profiles were placed together and color coded to provide images of aerosol and molecular scattering from below the aircraft to the ocean surface, over a 36-km segment of a flight track approximately 150 km off the coast of southern Virginia. The aircraft flew on a path approximately perpendicular to the expected orientation of cloud streets if they had formed. The lidar image clearly shows randomly sized convective cells in the CBL, grouping under the crests of a gravity wave in the stable troposphere. It is suggested that the wave develops as energetic convective cells in the CBL penetrate into the stable layer aloft and act as obstructions to the relative flow. An analytic study, published in 1965, demonstrates that vertical disturbances on the top of the CBL adjust to be in resonance with a horizontal gravity wave in the free troposphere. The results of the study along with an interpretation of the lidar images have led to the development of a simple conceptual model that is used to estimate the spacing and orientation of long linear convective features in the midlatitude CBL. In addition, the conceptual model can explain the change in cloud street patterns with increasing fetch, seen in satellite images. Comparisons with observations from this study and five other midlatitude field programs show good agreement. A suggestion for future research is presented.
publisherAmerican Meteorological Society
titleEstimating the Orientation and Spacing of Midlatitude Linear Convective Boundary Layer Features: Cloud Streets
typeJournal Paper
journal volume69
journal issue1
journal titleJournal of the Atmospheric Sciences
identifier doi10.1175/JAS-D-11-070.1
journal fristpage352
journal lastpage364
treeJournal of the Atmospheric Sciences:;2011:;Volume( 069 ):;issue: 001
contenttypeFulltext


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