TRACER Perspectives on Gulf-Breeze and Bay-Breeze Circulations and Coastal Convection

Journal Article · 30 September 2024 · Monthly Weather Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-23-0292.1 · OSTI ID:2440906

Wang, Dié ^[1]; Melvin, Emily C. ^[2]; Smith, Noah ^[3]; Jensen, Michael P. ^[1]; Gupta, Siddhant ^[4]; Abdullah-Smoot, Ayman ^[5]; Pszeniczny, Natalia ^[6]; Hahn, Travis ^[7]

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1. a Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York
2. b Earth and Atmospheric Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
3. c Occidental College, Los Angeles, California
4. d Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois
5. e Engineering and Technology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
6. f General Douglas MacArthur High School, Levittown, New York
7. g Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania

Abstract This study explores gulf-breeze circulations (GBCs) and bay-breeze circulations (BBCs) in Houston–Galveston, investigating their characteristics, large-scale weather influences, and impacts on surface properties, boundary layer updrafts, and convective clouds. The results are derived from a combination of datasets, including satellite observations, ground-based measurements, and reanalysis datasets, using machine learning, changepoint detection method, and Lagrangian cell tracking. We find that anticyclonic synoptic patterns during the summer months (June–September) favor GBC/BBC formation and the associated convective cloud development, representing 74% of cases. The main Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experiment (TRACER) site located close to the Galveston Bay is influenced by both GBC and BBC, with nearly half of the cases showing evident BBC features. The site experiences early frontal passages ranging from 1040 to 1630 local time (LT), with 1300 LT being the most frequent. These fronts are stronger than those observed at the ancillary site which is located further inland from the Galveston Bay, including larger changes in surface temperature, moisture, and wind speed. Furthermore, these fronts trigger boundary layer updrafts, likely promoting isolated convective precipitating cores that are short lived (average convective lifetime of 63 min) and slow moving (average propagation speed of 5 m s ⁻¹ ), primarily within 20–40 km from the coast.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Workforce Development for Teachers & Scientists (WDTS)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012704
• OSTI ID: 2440906
• Report Number(s): BNL--226188-2024-JAAM
• Journal Information: Monthly Weather Review, Journal Name: Monthly Weather Review Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 152; ISSN 0027-0644
• Publisher: American Meteorological SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English