A descriptive atmospheric transport climatology for the Mauna Loa Observatory, using clustered trajectories

Journal Article · Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD09p13651· OSTI ID:6062315

Harris, J M; Kahl, J D ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (USA)

The climatology of long-range atmospheric transport to the Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) is examined through an analysis of 10-day isobaric back trajectories for the period 1981-1988, computed using the National Meteorological Centers analyzed gridded winds. The trajectories are classified into distinct transport patterns through the use of cluster analysis, a procedure that avoids the somewhat arbitrary classification by compass sector and instead searches for meaningful groupings within the data themselves. The clustering procedure is performed separately for yearly and monthly sets of 500- and 700-hPa trajectories to examine both year-to-year and month-to-month variability in flow characteristics. The dominant transport features are quite similar from year to year, and include frequent summertime easterly flow associated with the trade winds and strong, wintertime westerly flow close to the mean axis of the subtropical jet stream. Veering westerly patterns that approach MLO from the north and northeast dominate during winter/summer transition periods. Other noteworthy features include recurring air mass transport from Saharan and Asian desert regions, infrequent interhemispheric flow from as far as 10{degree}S, and occasional flow from high northern latitudes. Ten-day back trajectories that pass over anthropogenic pollution source regions in western North America are rare.

• OSTI ID: 6062315
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Vol. 95:D9; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HAWAII
AIR POLLUTION
METEOROLOGY
AEROSOLS
AFRICA
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ASIA
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
CLIMATES
DATA ANALYSIS
DESERTS
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
METHANE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
OZONE
SOLAR RADIATION
VARIATIONS
WIND
ALKANES
ARID LANDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IX
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RADIATIONS
SOLS
STELLAR RADIATION
USA
540110*