Estimation of surface heat flux and inversion height with a Doppler acoustic sounder

In this paper, acoustic sounder (sodar) derived vertical velocity variance (σ _w ² ) and inversion height (Z _i) are used to compute the surface heat flux during the convective activity in the morning hours. The surface heat flux computed by these methods is found to be of the same order of magnitude as that obtained from tower measurements. Inversion heights derived from sodar reflectivity profiles averaged for an hour are compared with those obtained from the σ _w ² /Z profile. Variation of σ _w ² in the mixed layer is discussed. The data were collected during the Monsoon Trough Boundary Layer Experiment 1990 at Kharagpur. The analysis is made for four days which represent the pre-monsoon, onset, active and relatively weak phases of the summer monsoon 1990. The interaction of the ABL with the monsoon activity is studied in terms of the variation of inversion height, vertical velocity variance and surface heat flux as monsoon progresses from June to August.