Skip to main content
Log in

Climatological aspects of the tropical convective boundary layer

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The characteristics of a boundary layer depend both on conditions at the surface and in the interior of the medium. In the undisturbed tropics, the latter are largely determined by subsidence and by infrared radiational cooling. One-dimensional models are used to establish relationships between the inversion height, subsidence, upper-air humidity and sea-surface temperature. In particular, it is shown that a universally colder tropical ocean would probably be covered by more extensive clouds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ball, F. K.: 1960, Control of Inversion Height by Surface Heating, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 86, 483–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackadar, A. K. and Tennekes, H.: 1968, Asymptotic Similarity in Neutral Barotropic Planetary Boundary Layers, J. Atmos. Sci. 25, 1015–1020.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, S. K.: 1969, Observational Evidence of Anomalous Infrared Cooling in a Clear Tropical Atmosphere, J. Atmos. Sci. 26, 1347–1349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deardorff, J. W.: 1970, Preliminary Results from Numerical Integrations of the Unstable Planetary Boundary Layer, J. Atmos. Sci. 27, (8), 1209–1211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donelan, M. and Miyake, M.: 1973, Spectra and Fluxes in the Boundary Layer of the Trade-Wind Zone, J. Atmos. Sci. 30, 444–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellington, R. G.: 1972, A New Long Wave Radiative Transfer Model, Dept. of Meteorology, Florida State University Rep. No. 72-4.

  • Kato, H. and Phillips. O. M.: 1969, On the Penetration of a Turbulent Layer into Stratified Fluid, J. Fluid Mech. 37, 643–655.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus, E. B.: 1972, Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction, Oxford University Press.

  • Kraus, E. B.: 1973, Comparison Between Ice Age and Present General Circulations, Nature 245, 129–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilly, D. K.: 1968, Models of Cloud-Topped Mixed Layers Under a Strong Inversion, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 94, 292–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malkus, J. S.: 1962, Large-Scale Interactions, in M. N. Hill (ed.), The Sea, Vol. 1, 88–294, Interscience, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, J. E.: 1960, Direct Absorbtion of Solar Radiation by Atmospheric Water Vapor, J. Met. 17, 319–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre, A.: 1967, Coccoliths as Paleoclimatic Indicators of Pleistocene Glaciation, Science 158, 1314–1317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, O. M.: 1966, The Dynamics of the Upper Ocean, Cambridge University Press.

  • Pollard, R. T., Rhines, P. B., and Thomson, R. O. R. Y.: 1973, The Deepening of the Wind-Mixed Layer, Geoph. Fluid Dyn. 4, 381–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. S. and Kraus, E. B.: 1967, A One-Dimensional Model of the Seasonal Thermocline. I: A Laboratory Experiment and its Interpretation. II: The General Theory and its Consequences, Tellus 19, 88–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, J. D.: 1968, Wave-Induced Shear Instability in the Summer Thermocline, J. Fluid Mech. 32, 791–801.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Contribution No. 1700 Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kraus, E.B., Hanson, H.P. Climatological aspects of the tropical convective boundary layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 6, 219–233 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00232486

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00232486

Keywords

Navigation