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U.S. Department of Energy
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Field measurements in three dimensions of plume dispersion in the highly convective boundary layer

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5945469
Previous laboratory experiments and numerical modeling have identified characteristics of plume dispersion in the highly convective mixed layer that deviate significantly from predictions of Gaussian models. To assess the validity of these observations, meteorologists conducted a field study named CONDORS (Convective Dispersion Observed with Remote Sensors). CONDORS demonstrated that radar measurements of chaff under convective conditions and lidar measurements of oil fog can succeed in describing not only general plume location and shape, but also relative tracer concentrations. With sufficient care in tracer generation, sensor operation, and signal processing, the tracer systems are semiconservative and losses that do occur can be reasonably balanced.
Research Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (USA). Wave Propagation Lab.
OSTI ID:
5945469
Report Number(s):
PB-86-121472/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English