Atmospheric boundary layer studies at Jodhpur during MONTBLEX using sodar and tower

A monostatic sodar was set up at Jodhpur, near the western end of the monsoon trough, to investigate the atmospheric boundary layer dynamics. A 30 m instrumented tower was also located close to the sodar antenna. Data were collected from June to August during the monsoon period of 1990, as also from July 1992 to September 1993. Thermal plumes, surface-based stable layers (both flat or short spiky top and tall spiky top), elevated/multi-layers with or without undulations and dot echo structures were seen; however, erosion of the morning inversion layer in the form of a rising layer with growing thermal plumes under it was rarely seen, and that too only during the winter period. The observed structure of the stable layer with tall spikes and its depth have been found to be correlated with the intensity of the monsoon spell; the dot echoes have been found to be correlated with the approach of a monsoon depression near Jodhpur; and the elevated/multilayers have been attributed to the formation of a subsidence (shear instability).