Evolution of the atmospheric boundary-layer structure of an arid Andes Valley |
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Authors: | S Khodayar N Kalthoff M Fiebig-Wittmaack M Kohler |
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Institution: | (1) Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Research Centre/University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany;(2) Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas áridas, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile |
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Abstract: | Summary The boundary-layer structure of the Elqui Valley is investigated, which is situated in the arid north of Chile and extends
from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Andes in the east. The climate is dominated by the south-eastern Pacific subtropical
anticyclone and the cold Humboldt Current. This combination leads to considerable temperature and moisture gradients between
the coast and the valley and results in the evolution of sea and valley wind systems. The contribution of these mesoscale
wind systems to the heat and moisture budget of the valley atmosphere is estimated, based on radiosoundings performed near
the coast and in the valley.
Near the coast, a well-mixed cloud-topped boundary layer exists. Both, the temperature and the specific humidity do not change
considerably during the day. In the stratus layer the potential temperature increases, while the specific humidity decreases
slightly with height. The top of the thin stratus layer, about 300 m in depth, is marked by an inversion. Moderate sea breeze
winds of 3–4 m s−1 prevail in the sub-cloud and cloud layer during daytime, but no land breeze develops during the night.
The nocturnal valley atmosphere is characterized by a strong and 900 m deep stably stratified boundary layer. During the day,
no pronounced well-mixed layer with a capping inversion develops in the valley. Above a super-adiabatic surface layer of about
150 m depth, a stably stratified layer prevails throughout the day. However, heating can be observed within a layer above
the surface 800 m deep. Heat and moisture budget estimations show that sensible heat flux convergence exceeds cold air advection
in the morning, while both processes compensate each other around noon, such that the temperature evolution stagnates. In
the afternoon, cold air advection predominates and leads to net cooling of the boundary layer. Furthermore, the advection
of moist air results in the accumulation of moisture during the noon and afternoon period, while latent heat flux convergence
is of minor relevance to the moisture budget of the boundary layer.
Correspondence: Norbert Kalthoff, Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung, Universit?t Karlsruhe/Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe,
Postfach 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany |
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