scholarly journals Convective environment in pre-monsoon and monsoon conditions over the Indian subcontinent: the impact of surface forcing

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 7473-7488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois Thomas ◽  
Neelam Malap ◽  
Wojciech W. Grabowski ◽  
Kundan Dani ◽  
Thara V. Prabha

Abstract. Thermodynamic soundings for pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons from the Indian subcontinent are analysed to document differences between convective environments. The pre-monsoon environment features more variability for both near-surface moisture and free-tropospheric temperature and moisture profiles. As a result, the level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) and pseudo-adiabatic convective available potential energy (CAPE) vary more for the pre-monsoon environment. Pre-monsoon soundings also feature higher lifting condensation levels (LCLs). LCL heights are shown to depend on the availability of surface moisture, with low LCLs corresponding to high surface humidity, arguably because of the availability of soil moisture. A simple theoretical argument is developed and showed to mimic the observed relationship between LCLs and surface moisture. We argue that the key element is the partitioning of surface energy flux into its sensible and latent components, that is, the surface Bowen ratio, and the way the Bowen ratio affects surface buoyancy flux. We support our argument with observations of changes in the Bowen ratio and LCL height around the monsoon onset, and with idealized simulations of cloud fields driven by surface heat fluxes with different Bowen ratios.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois Thomas ◽  
Neelam Malap ◽  
Wojciech W. Grabowski ◽  
Kundan Dani ◽  
Thara V. Prabhakran

Abstract. Thermodynamic soundings for premonsoon and monsoon seasons from the Indian subcontinent are analyzed to document differences between convective environments. Pre-monsoon environment features more variability for both near surface moisture and free-tropospheric temperature and moisture profiles. As a result, level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) and pseudo-adiabatic Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) vary more for the pre-monsoon environment. Pre-monsoon soundings also feature higher Lifting Condensation Levels (LCLs). LCL heights are shown to depend on the availability of surface moisture, with low LCLs corresponding to high surface humidity arguably because of the availability of soil moisture. A simple theoretical argument is developed and showed to mimic the observed relationship between LCL and surface moisture. We argue that the key element is the partitioning of surface energy flux into its sensible and latent components, that is, the surface Bowen ratio, and the way Bowen ratio affects surface buoyancy flux. We support our argument with observations of changes in the Bowen ratio and LCL height around the monsoon onset, and with idealized simulations of cloud fields driven by surface heat fluxes with different Bowen ratios.


2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanhong Ma ◽  
Jianfang Fei ◽  
Xiaogang Huang ◽  
Xiaoping Cheng

Abstract The contributions of surface sensible heat fluxes (SHX) to the evolution of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity and structure are examined in this study by conducting cloud-resolving simulations. Results suggest that although the peak values of SHX could account for nearly 30% of those of the total surface latent and sensible heat fluxes, the impact of SHX on TC intensification is nonetheless not distinct. However, the TC size shows great sensitivity to the SHX that the storm is shrunk by over 20% after removing the SHX. A potential temperature budget analysis indicates that the adiabatic cooling accompanying the radial inflow is largely balanced by the transfer of sensible heat fluxes rather than the entrainment of subsiding air from aloft. If there is upward transfer of SHX from underlying ocean so that the near-surface potential temperature decreases upward, the SHX will play a vital role; instead, if the upward SHX are absent so that the potential temperature increases upward near the surface, the downward sensible heat fluxes become the dominant contributor to warm the inflow air. The changes in TC size are found to be primarily caused by the rainband activities. The SHX help maintain high convective available potential energy as well as the cold pool feature outside the eyewall, thus being crucial for the growth of outer rainbands. If without upward transport of SHX, the outer-rainband activities could be largely suppressed, thereby leading to a decrease of the TC size.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1383-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Solignac ◽  
A. Brut ◽  
J.-L. Selves ◽  
J.-P. Béteille ◽  
J.-P. Gastellu-Etchegorry ◽  
...  

Abstract. The use of scintillometers to determine sensible heat fluxes is now common in studies of land-atmosphere interactions. The main interest in these instruments is due to their ability to quantify energy distributions at the landscape scale, as they can calculate sensible heat flux values over long distances, in contrast to Eddy Correlation systems. However, scintillometer data do not provide a direct measure of sensible heat flux, but require additional data, such as the Bowen ratio (β), to provide flux values. The Bowen ratio can either be measured using Eddy Correlation systems or derived from the energy balance closure. In this work, specific requirements for estimating energy fluxes using a scintillometer were analyzed, as well as the accuracy of two flux calculation methods. We first focused on the classical method (used in standard software). We analysed the impact of the Bowen ratio according to both time averaging and ratio values; for instance, an averaged Bowen ratio (β) of less than 1 proved to be a significant source of measurement uncertainty. An alternative method, called the "β-closure method", for which the Bowen ratio measurement is not necessary, was also tested. In this case, it was observed that even for low β values, flux uncertainties were reduced and scintillometer data were well correlated with the Eddy Correlation results.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7369-7382 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mallick ◽  
A. Jarvis ◽  
G. Wohlfahrt ◽  
G. Kiely ◽  
T. Hirano ◽  
...  

Abstract. This paper introduces a relatively simple method for recovering global fields of latent heat flux. The method focuses on specifying Bowen ratio estimates through exploiting air temperature and vapour pressure measurements obtained from infrared soundings of the AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) sensor onboard NASA's Aqua platform. Through combining these Bowen ratio retrievals with satellite surface net available energy data, we have specified estimates of global noontime surface latent heat flux at the 1°×1° scale. These estimates were provisionally evaluated against data from 30 terrestrial tower flux sites covering a broad spectrum of biomes. Taking monthly average 13:30 data for 2003, this revealed promising agreement between the satellite and tower measurements of latent heat flux, with a pooled root-mean-square deviation of 79 W m−2, and no significant bias. However, this success partly arose as a product of the underspecification of the AIRS Bowen ratio compensating for the underspecification of the AIRS net available energy, suggesting further refinement of the approach is required. The error analysis suggested that the landscape level variability in enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and land surface temperature contributed significantly to the statistical metric of the predicted latent heat fluxes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kuipers Munneke ◽  
M. R. van den Broeke ◽  
J. C. King ◽  
T. Gray ◽  
C. H. Reijmer

Abstract. Data collected by two automatic weather stations (AWS) on the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica, between 22 January 2009 and 1 February 2011 are analyzed and used as input for a model that computes the surface energy budget (SEB), which includes melt energy. The two AWSs are separated by about 70 km in the north–south direction, and both the near-surface meteorology and the SEB show similarities, although small differences in all components (most notably the melt flux) can be seen. The impact of subsurface absorption of shortwave radiation on melt and snow temperature is significant, and discussed. In winter, longwave cooling of the surface is entirely compensated by a downward turbulent transport of sensible heat. In summer, the positive net radiative flux is compensated by melt, and quite frequently by upward turbulent diffusion of heat and moisture, leading to sublimation and weak convection over the ice shelf. The month of November 2010 is highlighted, when strong westerly flow over the Antarctic Peninsula led to a dry and warm föhn wind over the ice shelf, resulting in warm and sunny conditions. Under these conditions the increase in shortwave and sensible heat fluxes is larger than the decrease of net longwave and latent heat fluxes, providing energy for significant melt.


2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (12) ◽  
pp. 3781-3797 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-W. Bao ◽  
C. W. Fairall ◽  
S. A. Michelson ◽  
L. Bianco

Abstract This paper focuses on parameterizing the effect of sea spray at hurricane-strength winds on the momentum and heat fluxes in weather prediction models using the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (a common framework for the parameterizations of air–sea fluxes). In this scheme, the mass-density effect of sea spray is considered as an additional modification to the stratification of the near-surface profiles of wind, temperature, and moisture in the marine surface boundary layer (MSBL). The overall impact of sea-spray droplets on the mean profiles of wind, temperature, and moisture depends on the wind speed at the level of sea-spray generation. As the wind speed increases, the mean droplet size and the mass flux of sea-spray increase, rendering an increase of stability in the MSBL and the leveling-off of the surface drag. Sea spray also tends to increase the total air–sea sensible and latent heat fluxes at high winds. Results from sensitivity testing of the scheme in a numerical weather prediction model for an idealized case of hurricane intensification are presented along with a dynamical interpretation of the impact of the parameterized sea-spray physics on the structure of the hurricane boundary layer.


2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 2281-2302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Gasperoni ◽  
Ming Xue ◽  
Robert D. Palmer ◽  
Jidong Gao

Abstract The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) system is enhanced to include the analysis of radar-derived refractivity measurements. These refractivity data are most sensitive to atmospheric moisture content and provide high-resolution information on near-surface moisture that is important to convective initiation (CI) and precipitation forecasting. Observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) are performed using simulated refractivity data. The impacts of refractivity on CI and subsequent forecasts are investigated in the presence of varying observation error, radar location, data coverage, and different uncertainties in the background field. Cycled refractivity assimilation and forecasts are performed and the results compared to the truth. In addition to the perfect model experiments, imperfect model experiments are performed where the forecasts use the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model instead of the ARPS. A simulation for the 19 May 2010 central plain convection case is used for the OSSEs. It involves a large storm system, large convective available potential energy, and little convective inhibition, allowing for CI along a warm front in northern Oklahoma and ahead of a dryline later to the southwest. Emphasis is placed on the quality of moisture analyses and the subsequent forecasts of CI. Results show the ability of refractivity assimilation to correct low-level moisture errors, leading to improved CI forecasts. Equitable threat scores for reflectivity are generally higher when refractivity data are assimilated. Tests show small sensitivity to increased observational error or ground clutter coverage, and greater sensitivity to the limited data coverage of a single radar.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 741-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Solignac ◽  
A. Brut ◽  
J.-L. Selves ◽  
J.-P. Béteille ◽  
J.-P. Gastellu-Etchegorry ◽  
...  

Abstract. The use of scintillometers to determine sensible heat fluxes is now common in studies of land-atmosphere interactions. The main interest in these instruments is due to their ability to quantify energy distributions at the landscape scale, as they can calculate sensible heat flux values over long distances, in contrast to Eddy Covariance systems. However, scintillometer data do not provide a direct measure of sensible heat flux, but require additional data, such as the Bowen ratio (β), to provide flux values. The Bowen ratio can either be measured using Eddy Covariance systems or derived from the energy balance closure. In this work, specific requirements for estimating energy fluxes using a scintillometer were analyzed, as well as the accuracy of two flux calculation methods. We first focused on the classical method (used in standard softwares) and we analysed the impact of the Bowen ratio on flux value and uncertainty. For instance, an averaged Bowen ratio (β) of less than 1 proved to be a significant source of measurement uncertainty. An alternative method, called the "β-closure method", for which the Bowen ratio measurement is not necessary, was also tested. In this case, it was observed that even for low β values, flux uncertainties were reduced and scintillometer data were well correlated with the Eddy Covariance results. Besides, both methods should tend to the same results, but the second one slightly underestimates H while β decreases (<5%).


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 2665-2697
Author(s):  
P. Kuipers Munneke ◽  
M. R. van den Broeke ◽  
J. C. King ◽  
T. Gray ◽  
C. H. Reijmer

Abstract. Data collected by two automatic weather stations (AWS) on the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica, between 22 January 2009 and 1 February 2011 are analyzed and used as input for a model that computes the surface energy budget (SEB), including melt energy. The two AWSs are separated by about 70 km in the north-south direction, and both the near-surface meteorology and the SEB show similarities, although small differences in all components (most notably the melt flux) can be seen. The impact of subsurface absorption of shortwave radiation on melt and snow temperature is significant, and discussed. In winter, longwave cooling of the surface is entirely compensated by a downward turbulent transport of sensible heat. In summer, the positive net radiative flux is compensated by melt, and quite frequently by upward turbulent diffusion of heat and moisture, leading to sublimation and weak convection over the ice shelf. The month of November 2010 is highlighted, when strong westerly flow over the Antarctic Peninsula led to a dry and warm föhn wind over the ice shelf, resulting in warm and sunny conditions. Under these conditions the increase in shortwave and sensible heat fluxes is larger than the reduction of net longwave and latent heat fluxes, providing energy for significant melt.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4087
Author(s):  
Marta Szekalska ◽  
Aleksandra Citkowska ◽  
Magdalena Wróblewska ◽  
Katarzyna Winnicka

Fungal infections and invasive mycoses, despite the continuous medicine progress, are an important globally therapeutic problem. Multicompartment dosage formulations (e.g., microparticles) ensure a short drug diffusion way and high surface area of drug release, which as a consequence can provide improvement of therapeutic efficiency compared to the traditional drug dosage forms. As fucoidan is promising component with wide biological activity per se, the aim of this study was to prepare fucospheres (fucoidan microparticles) and fucoidan/gelatin microparticles with posaconazole using the one-step spray-drying technique. Pharmaceutical properties of designed fucospheres and the impact of the gelatin addition on their characteristics were evaluated. An important stage of this research was in vitro evaluation of antifungal activity of developed microparticles using different Candida species. It was observed that gelatin presence in microparticles significantly improved swelling capacity and mucoadhesiveness, and provided a sustained POS release. Furthermore, it was shown that gelatin addition enhanced antifungal activity of microparticles against tested Candida spp. strains. Microparticles formulation GF6, prepared by the spray drying of 20% fucoidan, 5% gelatin and 10% Posaconazole, were characterized by optimal mucoadhesive properties, high drug loading and the most sustained drug release (after 8 h 65.34 ± 4.10% and 33.81 ± 5.58% of posaconazole was dissolved in simulated vaginal fluid pH 4.2 or 0.1 M HCl pH 1.2, respectively).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document