Formation,Evolution, and Dissipation of Coastal Sea Fog

Evolution of sea fog has been investigated using three-dimensional Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) simulations. The study focused on widespread fog-cloud layers advected along the California coastal waters during 14–16 April 1999. According to analysis of the simulated trajectories, the intensity of air mass modification during this advection significantly depended on whether there were clouds along the trajectories and whether the modification took place over the land or ocean. The air mass, with its trajectory endpoint in the area where the fog was observed and simulated, gradually cooled despite the gradual increase in sea-surface temperature along the trajectory. Modelling results identified cloud-top cooling as a major determinant of marine-layer cooling and turbulence generation along the trajectories. Scale analysis showed that the radiative cooling term in the thermodynamic equation overpowered surface sensible and latent heat fluxes, and entrainment terms in cases of the transformation of marine clouds along the trajectories. Transformation of air masses along the trajectories without clouds and associated cloud-top cooling led to fog-free conditions at the endpoints of the trajectories over the ocean. The final impact on cloud-fog transition was determined by the interaction of synoptic and boundary-layer processes. Dissipation of sea fog was a consequence of a complex interplay between advection, synoptic evolution, and development of local circulations. Movement of the high-pressure system over land induced weakening of the along-shore advection and synoptic-pressure gradients, and allowed development of offshore flows that facilitated fog dissipation.     

A numerical study of boundary-layer dynamics in a mountain valley

The characteristics of dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer in a part of the Colorado River Valley, centered around Lake Mohave, have been investigated by analysis of measurements conducted during a field program in late spring and early summer of 1986 and a series of numerical simulations by a three-dimensional second-moment turbulence-closure model. The model was validated against measurements described in a companion article (Engeret al., 1993). According to airsonde measurements performed on eight nights, the depth of the surface inversion was around 200 m with an average temperature gradient of about 30 K km^–1. Analysis of acoustic sounder data collected during one month revealed significant diurnal variations ofU andV wind-speed components related to slope and valley flows, respectively. Some of the dynamics properties have been explained by the simulation results. It has been shown that the appearance of supergeostrophic southerly valley flow is associated with the westerly component of the geostrophic flow. Since a westerly component of the geostrophic wind is quite common for this area in summer, this effect also explains the frequently observed southerly valley flow in summer. Elevated minima of the measured wind speed around valley ridges appear to be related to the interaction of conservation of momentum in theX andY directions. The critical direction of the geostrophic wind relevant for reversal of up-valley flow to down-valley flow has also been studied. The critical direction is about 300° for one of the measurement sites and, depending on the angle between valley axis and south-north direction, the critical direction is expected to vary by about 15–20°. The scale analysis of the simulated equations of motion and turbulence kinetic energy emphasizes the strong impact of meandering of the flow due to actual topographic complexity.     

Nocturnal boundary-layer height: Observations by acoustic sounders and predictions in terms of surface-layer parameters

Acoustic sounder measurements of the stable boundary-layer height taken during the EPRI Plume Model Validation and Development Project experiment are examined. Comparison of simultaneous measurements by two sodars located 15 km apart shows good agreement. Several widely used diagnostic formulas for estimation of the boundary-layer height, based on wind speed and surface-layer parameters, such as friction velocity and Monin-Obukhov length, are tested against the sodar data. Of these, best performance is found using a simple linear relationship with friction velocity or, alternatively, wind speed at 10 m height. No evidence is found to support the more often used Zilitinkevich (1972) formula. Tests using selected data from the Cabauw site in the Netherlands confirm the results found on the basis of EPRI data.     

The Sensitivity Of A Stratocumulus Transition: Model Simulations Of The Astex First Lagrangian

In this study, a one-dimensional ensemble-average model is used to simulatethe Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment firstLagrangian, where the same airmass was followed from the subtropical high pressure region en route towards the trade wind region. The airmass experiences increasing sea-surface temperature and achange from subsidence to weak ascent on its way south. Thiscauses the marine boundary layer (MBL)to grow and the cloud deck to change from a solid stratocumulus deck tomore broken stratocumulus clouds with cumulus cloudsdeveloping beneath, and reaching up into the stratocumulus clouds.A control run is analyzed and compared in detail with theobservations. Both a statistical evaluation and a more subjective evaluation are performed, where both establish confidencein the model performance. The model captures the MBL growth and the cloudliquid water, as well as the drizzle flux, is well predicted by the model.A sensitivity study was performed with the objective of examining theMBL and the cloud response to external and internal 'forces'.The results show that, if drizzle formation is not allowed,unrealistically high cloud liquid water mixing ratios are predicted. Even though the drizzle flux is very small, it is still important for the water budget of the MBL and for the boundary-layer dynamics.We also found that the sea-surface temperature increase is more important for the increasing cloud top height than the synoptic-scale divergence fields. However, the synoptic-scale subsidence is crucial during the first day, when the sea-surface temperature was constant, in keepingthe cloud top at a constant height. Drizzle evaporation below the cloud base seems to be important for below-cloud condensation. The drizzle predictions are significantly altered when the prescribed cloud droplet and/or drizzle drop numbers are altered.     

Comparison of wind-stress algorithms and their influence on wind-stress curl using buoy measurements over the shelf off Bodega Bay, California

The main objectives of this study were to compare three wind-stress algorithms of varying intricacy and estimate the extent to which each method altered computed wind-stress curl. The algorithms included (1) a simple bulk formula for neutral conditions that is dependent only on wind velocity components; (2) a formula that in addition to dependence on wind components includes a simplified effect of thermal stability through differences in air and sea temperatures; and (3) an algorithm that includes full treatment of dynamics and atmospheric stability. Data for the analysis were from a field program that used a special buoy network off Bodega Bay during 28 June–4 August 2001.A diamond-shaped setup of five closely separated buoys in Bodega Bay allowed for one of the first attempts to compute wind-stress curl over the ocean using buoy measurements. Based on an analysis of the available dataset, the marine layer over Bodega Bay is characterized by positive wind-stress curl with a median value around 0.2 Pa (100 km)⁻¹ and maximum values reaching 2.5 Pa (100 km)⁻¹. Positive wind-stress curl was observed for all wind speed conditions, whereas negative wind-stress curl episodes were associated mostly with low-wind conditions.Comparison of wind-stress curl computed using the three algorithms showed that differences among them can be significant. The first and third algorithms indicated similar stress curl (difference around 10%), but the differences between these two and the second algorithm were much higher (approximately 40%). The reason for the difference is the stability correction, which in the third algorithm strongly decreases with an increase in wind speeds, but stays at a similar level for all wind speeds in the second algorithm. Consequently, for higher wind speeds the variability of wind stress calculated using the second algorithm is greater than for the other two algorithms, causing significant differences in computed wind-stress curl (root mean-square error equal to 0.19 Pa (100 km)⁻¹).Despite the apparent biases in computed wind stress and wind-stress curl among the algorithms, all of them show a significant trend of decreasing sea-surface temperature (SST) with increasing wind-stress curl. The bootstrapping analysis has revealed that both the along-shore wind stress and wind-stress curl have noticeable correlation with the changes in the sea-surface temperature as an indirect indication of the upwelling. An additional analysis, based on the low-pass filtered data, showed also significant agreement between the measured divergence in the cross-shore surface transport and the wind-stress curl computed for all three algorithms.     

Levels of organochlorine pesticides residues in meat

Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (Lindane, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, DDT and DDE) residues in beef samples from the Kumasi and Buoho abattoirs in Ghana were determined using gas chromatography. Organochlorine residues were found in all the samples. The average concentration of lindane in beef fat samples from Kumasi was 4.03 μg/kg and 1.79 μg/kg in beef fat from Buoho. The average levels of lindane were 2.07 μg/kg for lean meat samples from Kumasi abattoir and 0.60 μg/kg in lean meat samples from Buoho. Endosulfan concentration in meat samples from Buoho was 2.28 μg/kg in the fat and 0.59 μg/kg in the lean beef. 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-dichlorodiphenyl)ethylene (DDE) recorded mean concentrations of 118.45 μg/kg in beef fat and 42.93 μg/kg in lean beef samples from Kumasi abattoir. Beef samples from Buoho had DDE concentration of 31.89 μg/kg in the fat and 5.86 μg/ kg in the lean beef. 1, 1, 1-trichloro-2, 2-bis-(4′-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) recorded an average concentration of 545.22 μg/kg in beef fat and 18.85 μg/kg in lean beef samples from Kumasi abattoir. The average concentration of DDT in beef fat from Buoho was 403.82 μg/kg but lean meat samples from the same sampling site recorded mean concentration of 10.82 μg/kg for DDT. Although, most of the organochlorine residues detected were below the maximum limits set by the FAO/WHO, bioaccumulation of these residues is likely to pose health problems in higher organisms like human beings.     

A numerical study of boundary-layer dynamics in a mountain valley

A higher order closure model is applied to simulate the dynamics in an area with a deep valley characterized by complex terrain in the southwestern US. The simulation results show generally good agreement with measured profiles at two locations within the valley. Both the measurements and the simulations indicate that the flow dynamics in the area are highly influenced by the topography and meandering of the valley, and can be resolved only by the full three-dimensional model code. The wind veering simulated over the range of the topographic elevations is often larger than 100 deg and in some cases as large as 180 deg, as a consequence of topographic forcing. In the case of an infinitely long valley, as is assumed in two-dimensional test simulations, a strong low-level jet occurs within the valley during stable conditions. The jet is mainly a consequence of the Coriolis effect. However, the jet development is significantly reduced due to asymmetric effects of the actual topography treated in the three-dimensional simulations. Tests with the two-dimensional nonhydrostatic version of the model show significant wave responses for a stable stratified flow over the valley. The structure resembles nonlinear mesoscale lee waves, which are intrinsically nonhydrostatic. However, considering the three-dimensional nature of this valley system, a better understanding and verification of the nonhydrostatic effects requires both a three-dimensional nonhydrostatic numerical model and an observational data set which is fully representative in all three dimensions.List of symbols (unless otherwise defined in the text) B ₁ closure constant - f Coriolis parameter - g acceleration of gravity - K _M ,K _H ,K _R turbulent exchange coefficients for momentum, heat and moisture - k von Karman constant - L Monin-Obukhov length - q ² twice the turbulent kinetic energy - R specific humidity - s height of the model top - T _g ground surface temperature - t time - U, V horizontal components of wind - U _g ,V _g geostrophic wind components - u, w perturbation components ofU andW wind components - u _* friction velocity - W vertical wind component in the terrain-following coordinates - x, y horizontal coordinates - Z actual height above sea level - z actual height above ground - z ₀ roughness length - z _g terrain height - z _i depth of the convective boundary layer - ₁ closure constant - coefficient of thermal expansion - height in the terrain-following coordinate - master length scale in the turbulent parameterization - scaled pressure (Exner function) - potential temperature - _m normalized vertical wind shear     

Statistical assessment of geochemical pattern in overbank sediments of the river Sava,Croatia

Four overbank profiles from the three terraces of different age were sampled in 10 to 20 cm intervals for the bulk content of major and minor (Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, Al, Na, K and P) and trace (Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, As, U, Th, Sr, Cd, Sb, V, La, Cr, Ba, W, Zr, Ce, Sn, Y, Nb, Ta, Sc, Li, Rb and Hf) elements in the minus 0.125 mm fraction. Univariate statistics together with analysis of variance discriminated between the lower-lying carbonate (CA) population dominantly composed of carbonates and the overlying silicate (SI) population being dominantly of silicate mineralogy. This stratified pattern resulted from the intensive erosive action of melting glaciers exerted on limestones and dolomites in the alpine region, followed by local inputs mainly of silicate composition. Elements exhibiting the greatest between-population variability are Ca and Mg being enriched in the CA population and Fe, Mn, P, Sr, Al, Na, K, Li, Rb, Y, Zr, Ni, Cr and Ti being enriched in the SI population. Anomalously high Hg, Pb and Ba concentrations (maximum values: 6,500±2,860 ppb, 225±13 ppm and 1,519±91 ppm, respectively) in the lowermost part of the profile S7, which is nearest to the Croatian-Slovenian border, derive from the mineralized Slovenian catchment area. This profile also contains trimodal frequency distributions of Fe, Mn and P whose highest concentrations coincide with increased values of Zn and Cu which are bimodally distributed. Geochemical patterns of majority of elements in all four profiles consistently reflect the average compositions of the upstream drainage basins.