A Study of the Evolution of the Coastal Front and Related Mesoscale Structures in the Atmospheric Planetary Boundary Layer near the Southeast Coast of the United States

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The rapid development and intensification of winter cyclones in coastal regions presents a major weather forecasting problem. Along the East Coast of the United States, the development of cyclonic storms and frontal systems often occurs along the coastal region of the Carolinas. These weather systems may lead to severe weather in the heavily populated Northeast Corridor in the form of freezing rain, heavy snowfall, blizzards and extensive coastal erosion. A complex interaction of cold continental air, warm ocean currents, traveling atmospheric disturbances and local geography all appear to contribute to the rapid development of these systems; however, the processes are not well understood and the phenomena are often poorly forecast. In January-March 1986 a cooperative research project to study winter storms in this region was held by a consortium of universities and Federal agencies. Entitled GALE (Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment), the project was designed to provide detailed information on the role of air-sea interaction, planetary boundary-layer processes and mesoscale meteorological processes. As one of the investigators of the GALE, the Principal Investigator was instrumental in designing and executing the experiment. This research will extend initial analyses of data obtained during the GALE. Preliminary work reveals that the mesoscale structure is prevalent within the synoptic field and can better explain the observed precipitation and local weather than can the synoptic field. There is evidence, however, that mesoscale features occur in predictable patterns governed by the topography and synoptic-scale flow. The objectives of the research are to continue to identify and analyze mesoscale features in the atmospheric boundary layer over the near-shore waters and adjacent coastal plain and to explore the time- evolution of these features and their interactions with synoptic-scale systems especially as such interactions affect the precipitation process.