scholarly journals Aircraft measurements of water vapor heavy isotope ratios in the marine boundary layer and lower troposphere during ORACLES

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Henze ◽  
David Noone ◽  
Darin Toohey
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Heavy Isotope ◽  
Ratio Measurement ◽  
Data Usage

Abstract. This paper presents the water vapor heavy isotope ratio measurement system developed for aircraft in-situ measurements and used in the NASA ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES) project. The resultant dataset collected, which includes measurements of specific humidity and the heavy isotope ratios D / H and 18O / 16O, is also presented. Aircraft sampling took place in the southeast Atlantic marine boundary layer and lower troposphere (equator to 22° S) over the months of Sept. 2016, Aug. 2017, and Oct. 2018. Isotope measurements were made using cavity ring-down spectroscopic analyzers integrated into the Water Isotope System for Precipitation and Entrainment Research (WISPER). The water concentration and isotopic data accompanied a suite of other variables including standard meteorological quantities (wind, temperature, moisture), trace gas and aerosol concentrations, radar, and lidar remote sensing. From an isotope perspective, the 300+ hours of 1 Hz in-situ data at levels in the atmosphere ranging from 70 m to 6 km represents a remarkably large and vertically resolved dataset. This paper provides a brief overview of the ORACLES mission and describes how water vapor heavy isotope ratios fit within the experimental design. Overviews of the sampling region and WISPER system setup are presented, along with calibration details, measurement uncertainties, and suggested data usage. Characteristics in the spatial variability of the study region over the three sampling periods are highlighted with latitude-altitude curtains. A number of individual tropospheric profiles are presented to illustrate the fidelity with which a series of different hydrologic processes are captured by the observations. The curtains and profiles demonstrate the dataset’s potential to provide a comprehensive perspective on moisture transport and isotopic content in this region. Readers interested in a quick reference to data usage and uncertainty estimation can consult the beginning of section 5. Data for the Sept. 2016, Aug. 2017, and Oct. 2018 sampling periods can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5067/Suborbital/ORACLES/P3/2016_V2, https://doi.org/10.5067/Suborbital/ORACLES/P3/2017_V2, and https://doi.org/10.5067/Suborbital/ORACLES/P3/2018_V2, respectively (see references for ORACLES Science Team, 2020 – 2016 P3 data, 2017 P3 data, and 2018 P3 data). 

scholarly journals Aircraft validation of Aura Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer retrievals of HDO / H<sub>2</sub>O

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 3127-3138 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Herman ◽  
J. E. Cherry ◽  
J. Young ◽  
J. M. Welker ◽  
D. Noone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Observation Error ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Airborne Measurements

Abstract. The EOS (Earth Observing System) Aura Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) retrieves the atmospheric HDO / H2O ratio in the mid-to-lower troposphere as well as the planetary boundary layer. TES observations of water vapor and the HDO isotopologue have been compared with nearly coincident in situ airborne measurements for direct validation of the TES products. The field measurements were made with a commercially available Picarro L1115-i isotopic water analyzer on aircraft over the Alaskan interior boreal forest during the three summers of 2011 to 2013. TES special observations were utilized in these comparisons. The TES averaging kernels and a priori constraints have been applied to the in situ data, using version 5 (V005) of the TES data. TES calculated errors are compared with the standard deviation (1σ) of scan-to-scan variability to check consistency with the TES observation error. Spatial and temporal variations are assessed from the in situ aircraft measurements. It is found that the standard deviation of scan-to-scan variability of TES δD is ±34.1‰ in the boundary layer and ± 26.5‰ in the free troposphere. This scan-to-scan variability is consistent with the TES estimated error (observation error) of 10–18‰ after accounting for the atmospheric variations along the TES track of ±16‰ in the boundary layer, increasing to ±30‰ in the free troposphere observed by the aircraft in situ measurements. We estimate that TES V005 δD is biased high by an amount that decreases with pressure: approximately +123‰ at 1000 hPa, +98‰ in the boundary layer and +37‰ in the free troposphere. The uncertainty in this bias estimate is ±20‰. A correction for this bias has been applied to the TES HDO Lite Product data set. After bias correction, we show that TES has accurate sensitivity to water vapor isotopologues in the boundary layer.

scholarly journals Relação entre o Vapor D’Água Atmosférico e a Temperatura da Superfície do Mar Sobre a Região da Confluência Brasil-Malvinas, com Base em Dados Coletados In Situ (Relationship between Atmospheric Water Vapor Content and the Sea Surface Temperature in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence considering Data Collected In Situ)

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1687
Author(s):  
Rose Ane Pereira De Freitas ◽  
Ronald Buss Souza ◽  
Rafael Reis ◽  
Douglas Lindemann
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Water Vapor Content ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Vapor Concentration

A atmosfera consiste em um dos menores reservatórios de água do planeta, contribuindo com 0,001% da massa total da água presente, porém, sendo de fundamental importância para os processos físicos na atmosfera. A partir de dados obtidos através de 130 perfis de radiossondas realizados durante dez cruzeiros oceanográficos nos meses de outubro e novembro, entre 2004 e 2015, analisa-se a influência dos gradientes de temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM) e a passagem de sistemas atmosféricos transientes na variabilidade espaço-temporal da concentração de vapor d’água da camada limite atmosférica marinha (CLAM), sobre a região da Confluência Brasil Malvinas (CBM), enfatizando-se a Operação Antártica 31 (OP31). Os dados de vapor d’água são obtidos calculando-se umidade específica em superfície e água precipitável dentro da camada limite atmosférica. Os resultados mostram que os gradientes térmicos entre as águas quentes da Corrente do Brasil (CB) e as águas frias da Corrente das Malvinas (CM) produzem diferenças significativas no conteúdo de vapor d'água da CLAM nos dois lados da frente oceanográfica. Na superfície, o valor médio da umidade específica sobre o lado quente (frio) foi 8,4 ± 1,67 mm (7,08 ± 1,51 mm). A CLAM foi localmente modulada pela TSM, sendo cerca de 2g/kg mais úmida sobre a região quente da frente oceanográfica em relação à região fria. Em todas as observações realizadas, o vapor d’água integrado na CLAM foi diretamente influenciada pela passagem de sistemas atmosféricos transiente.    A B S T R A C TThe atmosphere is the smallest contributor of the planet's water tanks, providing only 0.001% of the water total mass, however, it is of fundamental importance for playing a key role in the atmosphere's physical processes. The data were obtained from 130 radiosondes profiles taken during ten oceanographic cruises carried out during the months of October and November between 2004 and 2015, analyzed the influence of the sea surface temperature (SST) gradients and the passage of transient atmospheric systems at the spatial-temporal variability of the water vapor concentration within the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), over Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC), emphasizing the Antarctic Operation 31 (AO31). Water vapor data are obtained by calculating surface specific moisture and precipitable water within the atmospheric boundary layer. The results show that the thermal gradients between the warm waters of Brazil Current and the cold waters of the Malvinas Current were able to produce significant differences in the water vapor content of the MABL on both sides of the oceanographic front. On the surface, the average of the specific humidity over the warm (cold) side was 8.4 ± 1.67 mm (7.08 ± 1.51 mm). The MABL was locally modulated by the SST, being about 2 g/kg wetter over the warm part of the front with respect to the cold one. In all the observations made, the water vapor integrated in the MABL was directly influenced by the passage of transient atmospheric systems.Key words: Southwest Atlantic; Oceanographic front; Transient atmospheric system

scholarly journals Aircraft validation of Aura Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer retrievals of HDO and H<sub>2</sub>O

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 3801-3833 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Herman ◽  
J. E. Cherry ◽  
J. Young ◽  
J. M. Welker ◽  
D. Noone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Observation Error ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Airborne Measurements

Abstract. The EOS Aura Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) retrieves the atmospheric HDO/H2O ratio in the mid-to-lower troposphere as well as the planetary boundary layer. TES observations of water vapor and the HDO isotopologue have been compared with nearly coincident in situ airborne measurements for direct validation of the TES products. The field measurements were made with a commercially available Picarro L1115-i isotopic water analyzer on aircraft over the Alaskan interior boreal forest during the three summers of 2011 to 2013. TES special observations were utilized in these comparisons. The TES averaging kernels and a priori constraints have been applied to the in situ data, using Version Five (V005) of the TES data. TES calculated errors are compared with the standard deviation (1-σ) of scan-to-scan variability to check consistency with the TES observation error. Spatial and temporal variations are assessed from the in situ aircraft measurements. It is found that the standard deviation of scan-to-scan variability of TES δD is ±34.1‰ in the boundary layer, and ±26.5‰ in the free troposphere. This scan-to-scan variability is consistent with the TES estimated error (observation error) of 10–18‰ after accounting for the atmospheric variations along the TES track of ±16‰ in the boundary layer, increasing to ±30‰ in the free troposphere observed by the aircraft in situ measurements. We estimate that TES V005 δD is biased high by an amount that decreases with pressure: approximately +12.3% at 1000 hPa, +9.8% in the boundary layer, and +3.7% in the free troposphere. The uncertainty in this bias estimate is ±2%. After bias correction, we show that TES has accurate sensitivity to water vapor isotopologues in the boundary layer.

scholarly journals Relação entre o Vapor D’Água Atmosférico e a Temperatura da Superfície do Mar Sobre a Região da Confluência Brasil-Malvinas, com Base em Dados Coletados In Situ (Relationship between Atmospheric Water Vapor Content and the Sea Surface Temperature in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence considering Data Collected In Situ)

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1370
Author(s):  
Rose Ane Pereira de Freitas ◽  
Ronald Buss de Souza ◽  
Rafael Afonso do Nascimento Reis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor Content ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Vapor Concentration ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Southwest Atlantic ◽  
Atmospheric Systems

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a influência dos gradientes de TSM e da passagem de sistemas atmosféricos transientes sobre a região da Confluência Brasil-Malvinas (CBM) no Oceano Atlântico Sudoeste e descrever a variabilidade espacial e temporal da concentração de vapor d’água dentro da camada limite atmosférica marinha (CLAM). Os dados foram obtidos a partir de 130 perfis de radiossondas realizados durante dez cruzeiros oceanográficos feitos durante os meses de outubro e novembro entre 2004 e 2015. Os resultados mostram que os gradientes termais entre as águas quentes da Corrente do Brasil e as águas frias da Corrente das Malvinas foram capazes de produzir diferenças significativas no conteúdo de vapor d'água na CLAM nos dois lados da frente oceanográfica. Na superfície, o valor médio da umidade específica sobre o lado quente (frio) foi 8,4 ± 1,67 mm (7,08 ± 1,51 mm). Em todas as observações realizadas, a umidade integrada na CLAM foi diretamente influenciada pela advecção e pela passagem de sistemas atmosféricos transientes.  A B S T R A C TThe objective of this work was to analyze the influence of the SST gradients and the passage of transient atmospheric systems at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, and to describe the spatial and temporal variability of the water vapor concentration within the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL). The data were obtained from 130 radiosondes profiles taken during ten oceanographic cruises carried out during the months of October and November between 2004 and 2015. The results show that the thermal gradients between the warm waters of Brazil Current and the cold waters of the Malvinas Current were able to produce significant differences in the water vapor content of the MABL on both sides of the oceanographic front. On the surface, the average of the specific humidity over the warm (cold) side was 8.4 ± 1.67 mm (7.08 ± 1.51 mm). In all the observations made, the water vapor integrated in the MABL was directly influenced by the advection and by the passage of transient atmospheric systems. Key words: Water Vapor; Brazil-Malvinas Confluence; Atmospheric boundary layer

Why sometimes its simply sunny (in the trades)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjorn Stevens ◽  
Ilya Serikov ◽  
Anna Lea Albright ◽  
Sandrine Bony ◽  
Geet George ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Lidar Signal ◽  
Cloud Base Height

&lt;p&gt;Cloud free skies are rare in the trades. &amp;#160;We analyze conditions in which cloud-free conditions prevail. &amp;#160;For this purpose Raman water vapor measurements from the Barbados Cloud Observatory, complemented by ship-based measurements during EUREC4A are used to explore water vapor variability in the marine boundary layer. &amp;#160; We explore the consistency of the inferred cloud base height with estimates of temperature and water vapor from the lidar signal, and examine the co-variability of these quantities. &amp;#160;After having established the properties of these measurements, we seek to use them as well as others, to explain in what ways periods of cloud-free conditions are maintained, investigating the hypothesis that only when the wind stills is it simply sunny.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals A Framework to Study Mixing Processes in the Marine Boundary Layer Using Water Vapor Isotope Measurements

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 2524-2532 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Benetti ◽  
J.‐L. Lacour ◽  
A. E. Sveinbjörnsdóttir ◽  
G. Aloisi ◽  
G. Reverdin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Isotope Measurements

scholarly journals Impacts of Shallow Convection on MJO Simulation: A Moist Static Energy and Moisture Budget Analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2417-2431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiongqiong Cai ◽  
Guang J. Zhang ◽  
Tianjun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Moist Static Energy ◽  
Shallow Convection ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Static Energy

Abstract The role of shallow convection in Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) simulation is examined in terms of the moist static energy (MSE) and moisture budgets. Two experiments are carried out using the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model, version 3.0 (CAM3.0): a “CTL” run and an “NSC” run that is the same as the CTL except with shallow convection disabled below 700 hPa between 20°S and 20°N. Although the major features in the mean state of outgoing longwave radiation, 850-hPa winds, and vertical structure of specific humidity are reasonably reproduced in both simulations, moisture and clouds are more confined to the planetary boundary layer in the NSC run. While the CTL run gives a better simulation of the MJO life cycle when compared with the reanalysis data, the NSC shows a substantially weaker MJO signal. Both the reanalysis data and simulations show a recharge–discharge mechanism in the MSE evolution that is dominated by the moisture anomalies. However, in the NSC the development of MSE and moisture anomalies is weaker and confined to a shallow layer at the developing phases, which may prevent further development of deep convection. By conducting the budget analysis on both the MSE and moisture, it is found that the major biases in the NSC run are largely attributed to the vertical and horizontal advection. Without shallow convection, the lack of gradual deepening of upward motion during the developing stage of MJO prevents the lower troposphere above the boundary layer from being preconditioned for deep convection.

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