Surface-based observations of mesoscale cumulus-stratocumulus interaction during ASTEX

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1995)052<2809:SBOOMC>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:106831

Miller, M A; Albrecht, B A ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Data obtained from the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) are used to describe cloud and boundary-layer structure for a 24-h period on 15 June 1992 over the east-central Atlantic. The evolution of the mesoscale cloud structure during a 24-h period in the vertical column above the surface site was characterized using a 94-GHz radar, a laser ceilometer, 3-h radiosonde ascents, and surface micrometerological instrumentation. Mesoscale circulations and drizzle were found to be key elements of the boundary-layer clouds observed in this region. During the late-night and predawn hours, a single layer of stratocumulus that averaged 200m in thickness topped a well-mixed marine boundary layer. Mesoscale cellular convection (MCC), which had ascending regions with horizontal dimensions of 7 km, was observed during this period. At sunrise, decoupling was imposed on this MMC, and extreme mesoscale variations in the cloud thickness and surface precipitation rate were observed. These variations included mesoscale patches of cumulus that rose from the surface-lifting condensation level into the overlying stratocumulus, co-existing with patches of decoupled stratocumulus that occasionally had small, shallow cumulus beneath. The average horizontal scale of these interaction regions was found to be on the order of 12 km, and mesoscale variations in the cloud thickness of as much as 400 m were indicated during the daytime. Major drizzle events observed at the surface were shown to correspond with the deepening of the cumulus layer. Evidence was presented that mesoscale cumulus-stratocumulus interaction regions were affecting the surrounding decoupled regions through (i) the vertical transport of properties of the surface moist layer to decoupled stratocumulus by nearby cumulus and (ii) the extended influence of subcloud-layer wakes induced by major precipitation events to nearby decoupled regions.

• OSTI ID: 106831
• Journal Information: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Journal Name: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 52; ISSN 0022-4928; ISSN JAHSAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
ALBEDO
CLIMATE MODELS
CLOUD COVER
CLOUDS
DAILY VARIATIONS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HEAT TRANSFER
LAYERS
MESOSPHERE
METEOROLOGY
MOISTURE
RADAR
RADIATIVE COOLING
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TRAPPING
WIND