Cumulus mergers in the maritime continent region

Summary We examine a family of tall (up to 20 km) cumulonimbus complexes that develop almost daily over an adjacent pair of flat islands in the Maritime Continent region north of Darwin, Australia, and that are known locally as Hectors. Nine cases observed by a rawinsonde network, surface observations (including radiation and soil measurements), the TRMM/TOGA radar, and one day of aircraft photography are used to analyse the development, rainfall, surface energy budgets, and vertical structure of these convective systems.The systems undergo convective merging which is similar to that observed in previous Florida studies and is multiplicative in terms of rainfall. About 90% of the total rainfall comes from the merged systems, which comprise less than 10% of convective systems, and this has implications for the manner in which tropical rainfall is parameterised in largerscale numerical models. By comparison to the West Indies, GATE, and Florida, the Hector environment contains a weaker basic flow, with less vertical shear. The main thermodynamic difference is that the Darwin area has an unstable upper troposphere and very high tropopause. Numerical modelling results support earlier observations of updraughts in excess of 30 ms^–1 in this region, but show that only modest convective drafts are experienced below the freezing level (5 km).The surface fluxes over the islands are estimated from a Monash University study to be mainly in latent form from evapotranspiration, with a Bowen ratio only slightly larger than that commonly observed over oceans. These surface fluxes are crucial to the development of a suitable mixed layer to support deep convection. The flux estimates agree with the observed changes below the cloud base and provide sufficient information for calculations of the bounds on precipitation efficiency. Of particular interest are the observations of Hector development on a day when the islands were under a dense cirrus overcast. We find that the islands still provide sufficient net sensible and latent heat fluxes to initiate convection.With 10 Figures     

Arecibo radar observations of Mars surface characteristics in the northern hemisphere

Mars surface characteristics at and near the Viking Chryse and Tritonis Lacus landing areas were determined by radio scatter using the new 12.6 cm radar at the Arecibo Observatory during 1975–1976. Interpretation of each power spectrum suggests rms surface tilts of 4° at the final A1WNW (47.9°W, 22.5°N) site, 5° near the original A1 site, and 6° between the two. At the back-up site (A2) surface roughness estimates were about 4°. Striking changes in surface texture have been found near the eastern bases of Tharsis Montes and Albor Tholus, each volcanic feature marking the western boundary of very smooth surface units. The roughness sensed at 1 to 100 m scales by radar appears to be relatively independent of the surface units defined at large scale lengths by photogeologists. Radar properties thus provide an additional means by which planetary surfaces may be characterized.     

The mean Jovian temperature structure derived from spectral observations from 105 to 630 cm−1

New far-infrared observations of the NH₃ rotation-inversion manifolds in the spectrum of Jupiter have been inverted with the use oftthe detailed ammonia line opacity. A temperature of 160°K at a 1-bar pressure level and a temperature of 105°K for the minimum temperature of the inversion level at 0.15 bars have been derived for gaseous absorption due to NH₃, H₂, and He. The overall fit to the brightness temperature as a function of frequency σ is within ±1°K for 100 ≤ σ ≤ 400 cm^?1 except for the centers of the NH₃ rotation-inversion manifolds where for J ≥ 7 the fit is about 5°K too high. In the continuum for 400 ≤ σ ≤ 630 cm^?1 the fit is within 2.5°K. Consideration of an ammonia ice haze, photodissociation of NH₃ by uv radiation, NH₃ abundance variation, different He/H₂ ratios, and uncertainties in the data effect the temperatures at 1 bar and the temperature at the inversion layer by <7°K. The presently derived temperature at 1 bar of 160°K is consistent with Jovian interior models which can match the gravitational moment, J₂.     

Calculating Groundwater Response Times for Flow in Heterogeneous Porous Media

Predicting the amount of time required for a transient groundwater response to take place is a practical question that is of interest in many situations. This time scale is often called the response time. In the groundwater hydrology literature, there are two main methods used to calculate the response time: (1) both the transient and steady‐state groundwater flow equations are solved, and the response time is taken to be amount of time required for the transient solution to approach the steady solution within some tolerance; and (2) simple scaling arguments are adopted. Certain limitations restrict both of these approaches. In this study, we outline a third method, based on the theory of mean action time. We derive the governing boundary value problem for both the mean and variance of action time for confined flow in two‐dimensional heterogeneous porous media. Importantly, we show that these boundary value problems can be solved using widely available software. Applying these methods to a test case reveals the advantages of the theory of mean action time relative to standard methods.     

A model of turbidity maximum maintenance in the Irish Sea

A two-dimensional model has been developed in order to improve understanding of the processes which interact to maintain the sediment concentrations at an isolated turbidity maximum in the Irish Sea throughout the year. The model comprises two interchangeable populations of particles with different diameters, one of fine cohesive material, the other made up of flocs. Both populations are slow settling, and subject to horizontal diffusion, resuspension, settling, aggregation and disaggregation.The equations used to describe the processes of aggregation and the break-up of flocs in response to sediment concentration and turbulent shear have been developed by the tuning of the model to observations. Due to high turbulent shear at the turbidity maximum, the particles are predominantly fine, while the sediment in the surrounding water is made up of larger flocs. Diffusion of small particles out of the turbidity maximum balanced by the diffusion of aggregated material towards it provides a mechanism for its maintenance. The modelled sediment concentrations at the turbidity maximum can be reproduced year-on-year, with no loss due to diffusive processes. This is achievable with a limited, exhaustible source of material which is not replenished once resuspended.Through comparison with satellite imagery the correlation of the modelled sediment concentrations with observations is investigated, both spatially and temporally. The seasonal cycle is reproduced well by the model with winter and summer concentrations matching those observed. Spatially the model also performs well in both turbid regions and those where the surface sediment load is low.     

Sea-breeze-initiated rainfall over the east coast of India during the Indian southwest monsoon

Sea-breeze-initiated convection and precipitation have been investigated along the east coast of India during the Indian southwest monsoon season. Sea-breeze circulation was observed on approximately 70–80% of days during the summer months (June–August) along the Chennai coast. Average sea-breeze wind speeds are greater at rural locations than in the urban region of Chennai. Sea-breeze circulation was shown to be the dominant mechanism initiating rainfall during the Indian southwest monsoon season. Approximately 80% of the total rainfall observed during the southwest monsoon over Chennai is directly related to convection initiated by sea-breeze circulation.