Microscale and Mesoscale Structures in Convective Marine Boundary Layers

从水面到大气的热量和水分转移的特征对于提高对天气和气候的理解是很重要的。本研究将通过特殊场资料的观测研究和数值模式模拟来研究海洋对流边界层的动力学和热力学性质及特征。这些云顶边界层的形成是对冬季从大陆地区平流过来的暖流以及大型内陆湖泊（如五大湖）相对温暖的开放水域的冷空气团的反应。本研究的观测研究将侧重于对流边界层湍流的统计特征，并将利用已经完成的实地项目的数据。一个先进的数值模拟模型将用于研究对流结构的物理过程。该模型将使用在一个现场项目中收集的特殊体积激光雷达数据进行验证。将开发新的统计方法，用于从数值模型模拟和现场观测（如激光雷达数据扫描）中计算二维和三维数据集中的高阶矩（例如垂直速度偏度）。还将从相干遥感数据流（如数字化卫星数据）中确定对流云场中的信号，并将其与现场地面实况观测进行比较。这一项目的成功完成将有助于更好地了解海洋边界层对大气的影响。

The characteristics of the transfer of heat and moisture from water surfaces to the atmosphere is important to advancing understanding of both weather and climate. This research will address the dynamic and thermodynamic properties and characteristics of convective marine boundary layers through both observational study of special field data and numerical model simulations. These cloud-topped boundary layers form in response to wintertime cold air masses that advect from continental regions out over warm ocean currents, as well as the relatively warm open waters of large inland lakes such as the Great Lakes.Observational studies in this research will focus on the statistical characteristics of turbulence of the convective boundary layer and will utilize data from already completed field programs. An advanced numerical simulation model will be use to study the physical processes responsible for convective structures. The model will be validated using special volumetric LIDAR data collected during one of the field programs. New statistical methods will be developed for calculating higher-order moments (e.g., vertical velocity skewness) in two-dimensional and three-dimensional data sets from both the numerical model simulations and field observations (such as the LIDAR data scans). Determination of signals in convective cloud fields from coherent remotely sensed data streams, such as digitized satellite data, will also be pursued and compared with in situ ground truth observations. Successful completion of this project will result in better understanding of the impact of the marine boundary layer on the atmosphere.