ISSN:
1573-1472
Keywords:
Boundary-layer fluxes
;
Land-sea transition
;
South-eastern Africa
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The structure of the lower atmospheric boundary layeralong the southeastern escarpment of Africa duringNovember 1993 is investigated. The study region fallsin a transition zone between dry desert to the westand sub-humid vegetated areas bordering the AgulhasCurrent to the east. The physical environment isdescribed by in situ observations from aircraft and acoastal weather station; from satellite composites ofsea surface temperature, vegetation reflectance andcloud temperatures; and synoptic weather data. Example aircraft sections illustrate sharp spatialgradients and changes in surface heat fluxes of order 100W m-2 (10 km)-1. Inland penetration ofmoisture depends on background zonal winds and depthof the marine layer. Aircraft turbulent covarianceestimates are used to identify high surface heatfluxes over the inland Karoo desert. During easterlywinds, moisture fluxes are greatest over vegetatedcoastal mountains in a plume 2 km deep. Surfacemoisture fluxes over the Agulhas Current and coastalmountains are double those over the cold inshorewaters and inland desert. The injection of moistunstable air increases the convective potentialduring ridging anticyclone weather conditions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1000295700599
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