Project Ahupua'a: solar meteorological field measurements on the Island of Hawaii, summer 1978. 2. Eastern flank of Mauna Loa
During 1-11 June 1978, solar radiation and other meteorological data were gathered at eight stations in a nearly linear transect on the windward eastern slopes of Hawaii, extending from the coast of Hilo, Hawaii to Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO), 60 km inland and 3400 m higher. In general, synoptic conditions were representative of normal early summer trade wind weather with a frontal remnant to the north, and a small westward-moving depression to the south. Solar radiation distributions followed climatological rainfall patterns; the driest areas were sunniest. At the wettest sites, underneath the orographic cloud, measured global solar radiation was only 50% of clear-sky potential, and the diffuse component probably accounted for more than 50% of the global. Consequently, effective concentration of solar radiation for use as an alternate energy resource will be difficult in such areas. The orographic cloud developed during the day in anabatic/trade winds of 2 to 4 m s/sup -1/, which sharply reduced afternoon solar radiation at all sites, including MLO on 7 out of 11 days. Moist upslope flow penetrated the trade wind inversion by 0.5 to 1.5 km on weak inversion days (approx. +1 /sup 0/C). When the inversion was strong (+5 to +8 /sup 0/C), MLO was dry and clear all day. Cloudiness, and hence insolation, varied greatly from day-to-day due to passage of trade wind cloud masses and jet stream cirrus. Even so, the island effect was always significant. Thus, our data and analyses can be used by mesoscale numerical modelers, particularly those attempting to simulate orographic cloud development.
- Research Organization:
- Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA). Dept. of Meteorology
- DOE Contract Number:
- EG-77-G-03-1617
- OSTI ID:
- 5626677
- Report Number(s):
- UHMET-79-04
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HAWAII
INSOLATION
METEOROLOGY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
CLOUDS
DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION
DIRECT SOLAR RADIATION
HOURLY VARIATIONS
HUMIDITY
ISOLATED VALUES
MAPS
RAIN
TABLES
TEMPERATURE MONITORING
WEATHER
WIND
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DATA
DATA FORMS
INFORMATION
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIATIONS
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR RADIATION
USA
VARIATIONS
WESTERN REGION
140100* - Solar Energy- Resources & Availability