Mean Offshore Refractive Conditions during the CASPER East Field Campaign

In this study, we use observational and numerical model data from the Coupled Air Sea Processes and Electromagnetic Ducting Research (CASPER) field campaign to describe the mean refractive conditions offshore Duck, North Carolina. The U.S. Navy operational numerical weather prediction model known as...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied meteorology and climatology 2019-04, Vol.58 (4), p.853-874
Main Authors: Ulate, Marcela, Wang, Qing, Haack, Tracy, Holt, Teddy, Alappattu, Denny P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic birds
Atmosphere
Atmospheric boundary layer
Boundary layers
Cold
Diurnal
Ducts
Electromagnetic properties
Experiments
Height
Humidity
Marine atmospheric boundary layer
Mathematical models
Numerical models
Ocean currents
Oceans
Offshore
Prediction models
Propagation
Sea surface
Studies
Surface temperature
Synoptic conditions
Waterfowl
Weather forecasting
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In this study, we use observational and numerical model data from the Coupled Air Sea Processes and Electromagnetic Ducting Research (CASPER) field campaign to describe the mean refractive conditions offshore Duck, North Carolina. The U.S. Navy operational numerical weather prediction model known as the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) performed well forecasting large-scale conditions during the experiment, with an observed warm bias in SST and cold and dry biases in temperature and humidity in the lowest 2000 m. In general, COAMPS underpredicted the number of ducts, and they were weaker and at lower height than those seen in observations. It was found that there is a noticeable diurnal evolution of the ducts, more over land than over the ocean. Ducts were found to be more frequent over land but overall were stronger and deeper over the ocean. Also, the evaporative duct height increases as one moves offshore. A case study was chosen to describe the electromagnetic properties under different synoptic conditions. In this case the continental atmospheric boundary layer dominates and interacts with the marine atmospheric boundary layer. As a result, the latter moves around 80 km offshore and then back inland after 2 h.
ISSN:1558-8424
1558-8432
DOI:10.1175/JAMC-D-18-0029.1