Spatial variability of the aspect sensitivity of VHF radar echoes in the troposphere and lower stratosphere during jet stream passages

The aspect sensitivity of SOUSY-VHF-radar oblique-beam echoes from the troposphere and lower stratosphere has been examined for a number of jet stream passages during the years 1990 - 1992. When the core of the jet is overhead or nearly so, vertical profiles of the aspect sensitivity display two notable features. First, the distinction between mainly isotropic and strongly aspect-sensitive echoes in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere, respectively, often reported for measurements made during calm conditions, does not necessarily prevail in the vicinity of the jet stream. Second, echoes obtained at altitudes near the height of the horizontal wind maximum are found to be more aspect sensitive for beams directed parallel to the horizontal flow or nearly so, than for other beam directions. It is demonstrated that time-averaged horizontal wind speeds estimated from the radar data, taking into account the reduced effective oblique-beam zenith angle resulting from aspect sensitivity, may exceed uncorrected wind speeds by as much as 10 m s⁻¹ in these circumstances. Implications for wind profiling and for describing the backscattering process are discussed. Doppler spectral widths examined for one jet stream passage are found to be narrower in a beam aligned with the horizontal wind at heights near the wind speed maximum than corresponding widths measured in a beam projected at right angles to the jet. The narrowest spectra thus coincide with the most aspect-sensitive echoes, consistent with the hypothesis that such returns result from specular backscattering processes.     

Structural features of the subauroral ionosphere during the origination of the polarization jet

Narrow jets of rapid westward ion drifts were registered near the plasmapause projection at the F-region altitudes on the Cosmoc-184 satellite and were called “a polarization jet.” In this work, the effect of this polarization jet on the ionospheric structure has been studied, using a three-dimensional model of the high-latitude ionosphere, when strong local magnetospheric electric fields were originated. The calculations indicated that a narrow trough in the latitudinal variations in the electron density at the F-region maximum was formed in the zone where the electric field was switched on. This trough was more pronounced in the early evening hours, when the electron background density was still high, and was less distinct at low back-ground levels during premidnight hours. A comparison of the calculations and experimental data indicated that they were in good agreement with one another, which made it possible to state that the polarization jet was the main mechanism by which narrow electron density troughs were formed in the subauroral ionosphere.     

VHF Radar observations of a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a subtropical jet stream

Abstract

In connection with the large dish at the Arccibo Observatory (Puerto Rico), the mobile SOUSY VHF Radar has been used to carry out velocity measurements in the troposphere with height and time resolutions of a few hundreds of meters and some tens of seconds, respectively. During the passage of a strong subtropical jet stream, vertical velocity oscillations have been observed at heights of maximum wind shear. The height and time variations of the velocity and the background wind profile deduced from radiosonde data indicate that a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI), with a period of 340s, a wavelength of 12 km and a velocity amplitude of about 1 ms^?1 was the source of the oscillations. Model calculations show good agreement with the observed quantities.     

Observational aspects of the low-level cross-equatorial jet stream of the western Indian Ocean

Summary Studies of all available upper wind data up to 3 km over eastern Africa and the western Indian Ocean reveal a major low-level air current circulating at about 1.5 km in the western periphery of the monsoon regime. The current originates in the southern hemisphere and penetrates progressively further north in spring until it reaches its maximum development in July. The major current is composed of systems of low-level jet streams which can be located on a daily basis, always in the same geographical areas, with speeds reaching 25–50 ms^–1 at heights of only 1–1.5 km. Because the current is topographically-locked over eastern Africa the massive flow of air from one hemisphere to the other can be monitored and some relationships with the rainfall of parts of western India can be deduced.This paper is only a brief review of the observational and analytical studies which have been carried out and reference should be made to original papers for details of the structure and development of the current.     

中国东部西南低空急流日变化特征及其机制

本文利用Final Global Data Assimilation System (FNL) 6小时再分析数据集分析了西南低空急流的日变化特征及其影响因子,结果表明:西南低空急流具有明显的日变化特征,在夜间和早晨(02LST,08LST)中国东南大部分地区急流发生频率较高,而在白天和傍晚(14LST,20LST)低空急流发生频率较低.经向地转风分量在一天内基本保持稳定,经向非地转分量在02LST最强,占实际风场强度50%以上,而在14LST和20LST,经向风场近似满足地转平衡.对风场非定常性、风速在流动方向上的非均匀性、流线弯曲和大气斜压性产生的地转偏差的分析结果表明,经向非地转风的日变化主要是由局地变压、水平风场涡度、垂直运动和温度梯度的日变化产生,副热带高压强度和位置的变化、青藏高原大地形加热效应和昼夜间海陆热力性质差异是造成经向非地转风夜间加强的重要原因.在中国东部地区,风速在流动方向的非均匀性虽然有利于非地转风的产生,但其没有明显的日变化,不是经向非地转风在夜间加强的主要原因.     

UHF radar observation of strato-tropospheric transfers on the anticyclonic side of a jet streak

An observation by UHF ST radar of a subsidence pattern on the right side of the exit region of a jet streak is reported. The onset of the subsidence pattern occurred at 23:30 UTC on the 29 November 1991, when a downward motion was initiated above 14 km. The injections of stratospheric air in this region seem to have an intermittent nature; they occur during at least three intervals during the lifetime of the subsidence pattern. Comparison of these results with an ECMWF analysis suggests that it is an unfolding case. However, observation of turbulent intensities w’ greater than 60 cm s⁻¹ at the tropopause level also suggests the existence of a turbulent flux between the stratosphere and the troposphere. From the turbulence characteristics measured by the radar and the potential temperature profile obtained by radiosonde data, the eddy diffusivity at the tropopause level has been calculated. An eddy diffusion coefficient ranging between 5 and 7 m² s⁻¹ is found. From these values, and with the assumption of a climatological gradient of the volume mixing ratio of ozone in the lower stratosphere, it is possible to deduce a rough estimate of the amount of ozone injected from the stratosphere into the troposphere during this event. A rate of transfer of 1.5×10²⁰ molecules of ozone per day and per square meter is found.     

Stable-boundary-layer regimes from the perspective of the low-level jet

This paper reviews results from two field studies of the nocturnal stable atmospheric boundary layer (SBL) over the Great Plains of the United States. Data from a scanning remote-sensing system, a High-Resolution Doppler Lidar (HRDL), provided measurements of mean and turbulent wind components at high spatial and temporal resolution through the lowest 500–1000 m of the atmosphere. This data set has allowed the characteristics of the low-level jet (LLJ) maximum (speed, height, direction) to be documented through entire nights. LLJs form after sunset and produce strong shear in the layer below the LLJ maximum or nose, which is a source of turbulence and mixing in the SBL. Simultaneous HRDL measurements of turbulence quantities related to turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) has allowed the turbulence in the subjet layer to be related to LLJ properties. Turbulence structure was found to be a function of the bulk stability of the subjet layer. For the strong-LLJ (> 15 m s⁻¹), weakly stable cases the strength of the turbulence is proportional to the strength of the LLJ. For these cases with nearly continuous turbulence in the subjet layer, low-level jet scaling, in which lengths are scaled by the LLJ height and velocity variables are scaled by the LLJ speed, was found to be appropriate. For the weak-wind (< 5 m s⁻¹ in the lowest 200 m), very stable boundary layer (vSBL), the boundary layer was found to be very shallow (sometimes < 10 m deep), and turbulent fluxes between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere were found to be essentially shut down. For more intermediate wind speeds and stabilities, the SBL shows varying degrees of intermittency due to various mechanisms, including shearinstability and other gravity waves, density currents, and other mesoscale disturbances.     

The detailed structure of the atmosphere near jet streams

Summary A short survey is given of results obtained from «Project Jet Stream» Research Flights. Several features of the atmospheric structure in the vicinity of the jet-stream core seem to be rather characteristic and shall be described in detail. The most prominent among these are: the «Jet-Stream Front»above and below the jet core, stable baroclinic zones on the anticyclonic side of the jet, and an upward bulge of the isentropic surfaces south of the jet stream, the so-called «isentrope hump». Some of theses features seem to have far-reaching implications upon the dynamics of the jet stream.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein kurzer Überblick über die Ergebnisse einiger «Project-Jet-Stream»-Forschungsflüge gegeben. Einige Merkmale der atmosphärischen Struktur in der Umgebung des Strahlstromkernes scheinen für eine Vielzahl der Fälle charakteristisch zu sein und sollen im folgenden noch näher beschrieben werden. Am deutlichsten treten hervor: Die «Jet-Stream-Front»oberhalb und unterhalb des Strahlstromkernes; stabile und barokline Zonen auf der antizyklonalen Seite des Strahlstromes; eine Aufwölbung der Isentropenflächen südlich der Strahlstromachse, der sogenannte «Isentropenbuckel» («isentrope hump»). Einige dieser Merkmale scheinen weitreichende Einflüsse auf die Dynamik der Strahlströmung zu besitzen.

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Paper presented at the I.U.G.G. Meeting in Helsinki, 1960.     

Sill dynamics and energy transformation in a jet fjord

A detailed set of observations are presented of the tidal forcing and basin response of Loch Etive, a jet-type fjordic system on the west coast of Scotland. The characteristics of the tidal jet observed during a spring tide are discussed in detail, and with reference to laboratory studies of Baines and Hoinka (1985). Although the system is categorized as a jet basin during spring tides (when the mode-1 densimetric Froude number exceeds 1) and a wave basin during neap tides (when the Froude number remains below 1), a mode-1 baroclinic wave response is observed throughout the spring/neap cycle. Of the total incident tidal energy, 16% is lost from the barotropic tide. The ratio between loss to bottom friction, barotropic form drag and baroclinic wave drag is estimated to be 1:4:1 (1:4:3.3) at springs (neaps). Despite this, during a spring tide, a 20-m amplitude baroclinic mode-1 wave is observed to propagate along the full length of the basin at a speed of 0.2 m s^–1, somewhat slower than the predicted linear mode-1 phase speed. A hydrographic section supports the implication of the dissipation of the baroclinic wave towards the loch head. The stratification of the upper layers is observed to decrease rapidly landward of the 40-m isobath, a possible signature of enhanced diapycnal mixing in the shallower reaches towards the loch head.Responsible Editor: Jens Kappenberg     

Inertia-gravity waves in the troposphere and lower stratosphere associated with a jet stream exit region

Radar measurements at Aberystwyth (52.4°N, 4.1°W) of winds at tropospheric and lower stratospheric heights are shown for 12–13 March 1994 in a region of highly curved flow, downstream of the jet maximum. The perturbations of horizontal velocity have comparable amplitudes in the troposphere and lower stratosphere with downward and upward phase propagation, respectively, in these two height regions. The sense of rotation with increasing height in hodographs of horizontal perturbation velocity derived for hourly intervals show downwards propagation of energy in the troposphere and upward propagation in the lower stratosphere with vertical wavelengths of 1.7 to 2.3 km. The results indicate inertia-gravity waves propagating in a direction similar to that of the jet stream but at smaller velocities. Some of the features observed contrast with those of previous observations of inertia-gravity waves propagating transverse to the jet stream. The interpretation of the hodographs to derive wave parameters has taken account of the vertical shear of the background wind transverse to the direction of wave propagation.     

北京夏季夜间低空急流特征观测分析

利用三年夏季系留气艇探测结果,分析了北京夏季夜间低空急流的一般特征.30％的夜间观测记录出现了低空急流.急流平均高度为200 m,其最大频率出现在140 m左右,90％急流出现在320 m以下.W、SW、SE是夜间低空急流的主要风向.不同观测地点低空急流在速度、风向和高度上存在明显差异.城区低空急流高度大部分时间比郊区高.个例分析表明,在夜间稳定边界层条件下,低空急流与局地山谷风环流强弱变化有很好相关.进一步成因分析认为,斜坡地形产生的热成风、山谷风环流可能是北京夏季夜间低空急流形成的主要原因.     

Position variations of the polarization jet and injection boundary of energetic ions during substorms

The comparison of selected cases of polarization jet observation at ground stations and measurements of energetic ions at the AMPTE/CCE satellite shows that these phenomena occur simultaneously and on the same L shells. Polarization jet observations at DMSP satellites make it possible to statistically determine the dependence of its equatorial boundary position on the AE-index value. It is also shown that, in the case of isolated magnetic disturbances, the position of the inner boundary of injection of energetic ions measured at the AMPTE/CCE satellite depends on the AE index. It was found that the dependences of both boundaries on the AE index match over a wide range of AE variations. This is evidence that the equatorial boundary polarization jet band and the inner boundary of the injection of energetic ions are physically interconnected and are formed on the same L shells during substorms.     

Tibetan anticyclone and tropical easterly jet

Summary During the summer monsoon the upper tropospheric subtropical anticyclone of Asia is centred over SE Tibet (when it is called the Tibetan anticyclone). Further, the equatorward outflow from this anticyclone gains easterly angular momentum and therefore it appears as an easterly jet stream over SE Asia south of 20N between 150 mb and 100 mb. On finding these current concepts questionable, this study offers an alternative explanation for the migration of the upper tropospheric anticyclone to the Tibetan Plateau and also for the development of the tropical easterly jet. In summer the Bay of Bengal is cold compared to its adjoining continental plains in the north. Therefore in the beginning of summer the lower levels of the anticyclone migrate from their winter position in the Bay of Bengal to the warm plains in the north. As they reach the plains by about June, the upper levels of the anticyclone above 150 mb extend north over the Tibetan Plateau irrespective of whether the Plateau is a warm source or cold source because the upper levels of the subtropical anticyclone have a characteristic poleward slope in all seasons. By about July, when the lower levels of the anticyclone migrate from the plains to still warmer areas in the north over the Plateau, the upper levels which are already over the Plateau continue to remain there throughout the season. The zonal component of the equatorward outflow from the Tibetan anticyclone computed from the law of conservation of angular momentum does not bear any comparison with the observed winds in the upper troposphere over India. On the other hand the winds computed from a thermal gradient show a reasonable agreement with the observed winds indicating thereby that the upper tropospheric high winds are thermally generated. These high winds have been found as a unique phenomenon distinct from a jet stream and therefore it is considered appropriate to call them Tropical Strong Easterlies (TSE) rather than as a tropical easterly jet stream. Some of the characteristic features of the TSE are discussed and they are ascribed to the peculiar temperature distribution in the atmosphere between 200 mb and 60 mb mainly brought about by the vertical motion associated with the summer monsoon.     

Formation of the thermal-driven boundary jet in an f-plane mesoscale basin

The paper adopts an f-plane quasi-geostrophic inertial model without linearization to investigate the perturbation temperature, boundary jet and upwelling (downwelling) in an idealized rectangular basin, under the consideration of west side friction layer and heat conservation. There is net heat input on the upper surface and equal quality heat dissipation on the west boundary, and without heat exchange on other boundaries, then the heat is conservation in the whole basin. Results show that there is thermal front due to denseness of the perturbation temperature in the west side boundary, the perturbation pressure and flow field are reversal on the upper layer and bottom layer. On the bottom layer, the west coastal current is northward, and the maximum perturbation pressure center is on the west, however, on the upper layer, the east coastal current is southward, and the maximum perturbation pressure center is on the east. There is strong vertical flow in narrow western boundary layer, and also in the central zone. The effect of different upper thermal forcings is also studied, and it can be concluded that there is always temperature denseness and boundary jet near the west boundary, and the appearance of flow field reversal, but the distribution of vertical flow is rather different.     

Results of UHF radar observation of the nocturnal low-level jet for wind energy applications

We use two series of eight-month UHF radar observations collected during the dry and wet seasons of AMMA field campaign. The ultimate goal is to do preliminary work to know whether the lowest layers are suitable for wind energy applications. Surface wind is usually weak in West Africa, but the regular occurrence of a nocturnal low level jet (NLLJ) could provide interesting conditions for wind energy. This work is two-fold: it first aims at improving our knowledge about the NLLJ in West Africa regarding its structure and its variability during the year. Then, special attention is paid to the first 200 m agl, to study the possibility to use the sub-jet wind as a source of energy. A set of enhanced radio-soundings is taken to help to understand the dynamics and thermodynamics and to find a way to extrapolate the wind at low level, where the UHF radars do not provide data.     

Different-Scale Variations in the Abundance and Species Diversity of Metazoan Microzooplankton in the Coastal Zone of the Black Sea

Water Resources - The short-term, seasonal, and interannual variations in the abundance and species composition of the Black Sea metazoan microzooplankton have been analyzed at the open coastal...     

Numerical modeling of the penetration area of reversed submerged jet by the methods of finite elements and finite volumes

Water jet flow has many usages in the field of management and water resource operation that can be applied in mixing, dilution and aerification. The current study has calculated the flow velocity, length and height of jet penetration area (jet and main flow are of opposite directions) by the use of methods of finite element (FEM) and finite volume (FVM) and k–ε model. In order to evaluate and verify this turbulent model, the results of the numerical model have been compared with the experimental results. This model has been studied for consideration of various jet flow velocities and thicknesses. The conclusions have indicated that the length and the height of the penetration area have linear relationship with jet flow velocity; therefore, as the jet flow velocity increases, the length of jet penetration increases as well. The comparison of the results of numerical method with the experimental data have demonstrated that the FVM holds less convergence time and better results compared with FEM.     

Multifractal characteristics of the jet turbulent intensity depending on the outfall nozzle geometry

The multifractal measure enables an examination of the characteristics of a quantity distributed over a domain. This study examined the multifractal properties of turbulent intensities obtained from jet discharge experiments, where three types of nozzle geometries were examined in terms of the velocity fields and turbulent characteristics using particle image velocimetry. Depending on the nozzle geometry, the experimental results showed that the distribution of turbulent intensities and resulting dilution exhibited different behaviors. The experiment also showed that the transversal velocity profiles are similar to each other regardless of the outfall nozzle shapes and demonstrates the traditional similarity assumption at the same time. The multifractal exponents of the turbulent intensities were obtained with Box Count Method in a two-dimensional space. The results showed that the turbulent intensities obtained in two-dimensional space have a common multifractal spectrum, which was not the case for the velocity or shear stress observed in the same space. Although the transversal velocity profiles are similar, the multifractal exponent clearly shows a difference depending on the outfall geometries. In particular, the minimum value of the Lipschitz–Hölder exponent (α _min) and the entropy dimension (α ₁) tends to increase as turbulent intensity and dilution increase. These results suggest that the multifractal properties can be utilized potentially to categorize and evaluate the discharge outfall capabilities in terms of the resulting dilution.