Observed development of the vertical structure of the marine boundary layer during the LASIE experiment in the Ligurian Sea

• Published in: Annales geophysicae (1988) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 17 - 25
• Main Authors: SEMPREVIVA, A. M, SCHIANO, M. E, TRANSERICIL, C, PENSIERI, S, SEMEDO, A, TOME, R, BOZZANO, R, BORGHINI, M, GRASSO, F, SOERENSEN, L. L, TEIXEIRA, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Göttingen Copernicus 01-01-2010; Copernicus GmbH; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Atmospheric composition and structure; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Geovetenskap; Marine; Measuring instruments; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; Ocean-atmosphere interaction; Physics of the ionosphere; Physics of the magnetosphere; Planetary boundary layer; Remote sensing; Transmission and scattering of radiation; Mediterranean Sea; Ligurian Sea; Italy, Genoa; MED, Ligurian Sea; MED; Internal layer; Relative humidity; Radiation scattering; Buoy; Marine atmosphere; boundary layer; Surface layer; remote sensing; case studies; ocean-atmosphere interaction; Ceilometer; Atmospheric composition; Potential temperature; Warm air; winds; Atmospheric boundary layer; Atmospheric composition and structure (Transmission and scattering of radiation); Height; Dry air; Atmospheric structure
• ISSN: 0992-7689; 1432-0576; 1432-0576
• DOI: 10.5194/angeo-28-17-2010

In the marine environment, complete datasets describing the surface layer and the vertical structure of the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL), through its entire depth, are less frequent than over land, due to the high cost of measuring campaigns. During the seven days of the Ligurian Air-Sea Interaction Experiment (LASIE), organized by the NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC) in the Mediterranean Sea, extensive in situ and remote sensing measurements were collected from instruments placed on a spar buoy and a ship. Standard surface meteorological measurements were collected by meteorological sensors mounted on the buoy ODAS Italia1 located in the centre of the Gulf of Genoa. The evolution of the height (zi) of the MABL was monitored using radiosondes and a ceilometer on board of the N/O Urania. Here, we present the database and an uncommon case study of the evolution of the vertical structure of the MABL, observed by two independent measuring systems: the ceilometer and radiosondes. Following the changes of surface flow conditions, in a sequence of onshore – offshore – onshore wind direction shifting episodes, during the mid part of the campaign, the overall structure of the MABL changed. Warm and dry air from land advected over a colder sea, induced a stably stratified Internal Boundary Layer (IBL) and a consequent change in the structure of the vertical profiles of potential temperature and relative humidity.