Monsoon Boundary Layer Research Articles

An assessment of Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) characteristics observed in continuous Radiosonding from New Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR-Delhi)

The geographical location of the New Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) within the Northern Gangetic Plains is influenced by the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and its associated weather. Monsoon weather is observed by the appearance of organised clouds, an outbreak of rainfall, and humid conditions. The current study examines pre-monsoon and monsoon weather conditions, together with intra-monsoonal variations (viz. wet, dry, and withdrawal spells) in wind structure, thermodynamic parameters, precipitation, and the structure of the Monsoon Boundary Layer (MBL). Investigations are also made into the macrophysical aspects of the monsoonal clouds/ weather systems that initiate and maintain ISM characteristics over the region. Moisture availability in the boundary layer carried by the low-level monsoon winds has a substantial role in forming monsoonal cloud mechanisms, such as shifting down the Lifting Condensation Level (LCL) closer to the Level of Free Convection (LFC) as an effect of continuous moisture supply from the lower levels and rising of Level of Neutral Buoyancy (LNB) near the tropopause region during the monsoonal period. Further influenced by the moisture in the boundary layer, the Precipitable Water (PW) is also reliant on the LCL height. Additionally, it is observed that the short-term zonal disturbances induced by extra-tropical and sub-tropical flows impacts intra-monsoonal weakening and variations. Analysis from several of the convective parameters and indices revealed that deep convective systems might occur throughout the monsoon season, while severe thunderstorms could develop during the pre-monsoon, and thunderstorms are less likely to happen during the withdrawal spell. The data presented here are the first to use continuous Radiosondes observations for quantitative assessments of the nature of the ISM over northern India.

Three-dimensional structure and transport pathways of dust aerosols over West Asia

AbstractThis study investigates the seasonal climatology of the three-dimensional distribution and transport pathways of dust aerosols over West Asia (WA). Dust column loading over WA exhibits strong seasonality, with markedly high (weak) loading during summer (winter). The summer dust features over WA include the (i) dust reaching up to the 500 hPa level between the Red Sea (RS) and the west coast of the Indian subcontinent (IS); (ii) a slantwise advection of dust aerosols between 850 and 700 hPa levels over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) and Arabian Sea (AS); and (iii) a prominent mid-tropospheric zonal transport of AP dust toward the IS. Maximum column integrated horizontal dust mass flux (DMF) over WA is observed in summer. The intraday changes in the intensity and spatial spread of the DMF over the AP are mediated by the out-of-phase evolution of the surface winds and low-level Shamal jets. Furthermore, the diurnal changes in the strength of the inversion layers located above the monsoon boundary layer and associated wind shear regulate the spatial patterns and intensity of the DMF over the AS. The findings will support future studies aiming at quantifying the radiative effects of dust on the regional climate.

Variations in monsoon boundary layer structure with respect to cloudiness over the west coast of India

Variations in monsoon boundary layer structure with respect to cloudiness over the west coast of India

Thermodynamic structure of monsoon boundary layer over the west coast of India

The study investigates thermodynamic structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the west coast of India during the southwest monsoon season. Radiosonde profiles at 00 UTC (0530 IST) are utilised for three stations, namely Thiruvananthapuram (TVM), Mangalore (MNG) and Mumbai (MUM) to represent south, central and north parts of the west coast, respectively. The high vertical resolution radiosonde data were collected from India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the period 1st May to 31st October 2018. Variations in the thermodynamic parameters associated with the monsoon and active and weak surges are examined. The active and weak monsoon conditions are identified using the values of OLR (outgoing longwave radiation) and rainfall in the respective stations. The study delineates interesting dynamic and thermodynamic features over the region. The thermodynamic parameters possess remarkable variations associated with the approach of the monsoon surges. TVM is characterised by absolutely stable or conditionally neutral (conditionally unstable) layer above a shallow conditionally unstable layer over the ground during the active (weak) monsoon situations; however, over MNG and MUM, ABL is conditionally unstable during both active and weak situations. Stable atmosphere is expected to cause stratiform clouds under favourable dynamic factors, whereas unstable atmosphere can aid vertical development of clouds and this can be attributed to the vertical shear of zonal wind. Zonal wind has a sharp increase from the ground to above ABL (~ 1200 m) in TVM; however, it is in the lower levels of ABL over MNG and MUM. In MUM, strong zonal wind is observed during the active (>20 m s−1) and weak (>12 m s−1) situations that causes intense mixing and maximum ABL height. The enhanced monsoon activity in MUM (MNG) is mainly associated with the active phase of the monsoon intraseasonal oscillation (active phase of the monsoon intraseasonal oscillation and strengthening of low level zonal wind), whereas in TVM it is mainly associated with the strengthening of low level zonal wind. The ABL heights are elevated during weak monsoon conditions due to convective turbulence added to the mechanical turbulence associated with the strong wind during the season.

Role of surface and boundary layer processes in the temporal evolution of Monsoon Low Level Jet (MLLJ) observed from high resolution Doppler wind lidar measurements

Monsoon Low Level Jet (MLLJ) is one of the important components of Indian summer monsoon. Using high-resolution measurements of boundary layer wind profiles from a Doppler wind lidar at Mahbubnagar (16.73°N, 77.98°E and 445m above mean sea level), India, the temporal evolution of the MLLJ has been investigated. Both jet core height and jet speed show clear diurnal variation during the monsoon season. Jet core starts descending down in the evening hours and remains at a height between 600m and 900m (above surface level) during nighttime. Soon after local sunrise, jet core starts ascending and reaches heights above 1800m by afternoon hours. Jet core speed starts strengthening in the nighttime and attains maximum intensity in the early morning hours and then the core speeds decrease around the time when the jet core is at its maximum height. Simultaneous diurnal variations of surface temperature, sensible heat flux, latent heat flux and Richardson number show that daytime heating and turbulence in surface layers enhance mixing in the daytime boundary layer which helps in lifting of the jet core. Shear produced turbulence and momentum fluxes also play a significant role in the diurnal variation of MLLJ. Factors influencing the evolution of the convective boundary layer and factors responsible for formation of nocturnal boundary layer are closely associated with the diurnal variation of MLLJ occurring over the low-latitude south Indian peninsular region during monsoon season. The results emphasize the importance of continuous and high spatial-temporal resolution wind profile measurements in the monsoon boundary layer from a Doppler wind lidar.

Boundary layer characteristics associated with sea breeze circulation over Cochin

Features of sea and land breezes, surface fluxes and drag coefficient over Cochin are studied using more than 300 daily observations of air temperature, wind speed and direction data. The duration and intensity of sea breeze circulation vary with the rain or cloud as it reduces the differential heating. Onset of sea breeze is early in summer season for the near equatorial station compared to winter season. Cessation is almost same for all seasons and is around 1900 hours. The sea breeze circulation is almost westerly and land breeze circulation is almost easterly in all the seasons. It is found that in most of the cases, the temperature and wind speed decreases at the time of onset of sea breeze and turning of wind direction with height becomes counter clockwise (backing) during the transition period from land breeze to sea breeze. In all seasons, the momentum flux is directed downward. High values of momentum flux were found during the presence of sea breeze in pre-monsoon season. Average sensible heat flux is directed upward during the entire period and during nighttime it is almost zero in the winter and monsoon seasons. The intensity of momentum flux decreases during onset and cessation of sea breeze for all the cases. The cold air advection associated with the sea breeze results in the decrease of sensible heat flux at the time of onset of sea breeze. Averaged surface momentum and sensible flux patterns resemble closely to the instantaneous pattern for all the seasons. Generally, sea breeze is stronger than land breeze in all the seasons. Accordingly, the drag coefficient power relationship with wind is different for sea breeze and land breeze circulations.Key words – Sea breeze circulation, Monsoon boundary layer, Surface fluxes, Drag coefficient, Diurnal variation.

The Sensitivity of the Numerical Simulation of the Southwest Monsoon Boundary Layer to the Choice of PBL Turbulence Parameterization in MM5

Summertime convection over Arizona typically begins in the early afternoon and continues into the night. This suggests that the evolution of the daytime planetary boundary layer is important to the development of Arizona convection. If numerical models are to provide useful guidance for forecasting convection during the monsoon, then the planetary boundary layer must be simulated as accurately as possible through utilization of the appropriate physical parameterizations. This study examines the most appropriate Pennsylvania State University‐National Center for Atmospheric Research fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5) planetary boundary layer parameterization(s) for deterministic and ensemble modeling of the monsoon. The four MM5 planetary boundary layer parameterizations tested are the Blackadar, Burk‐Thompson, Eta, and medium-range forecast (MRF) schemes. The Blackadar and MRF planetary boundary layer schemes correctly predict the development of the deep, monsoon planetary boundary layer, and consequently do a better job of predicting the convective available potential energy and downdraft convective available potential energy, but not the convective inhibition. Because the convective inhibition is not accurately predicted, it is possible that the MM5’s ability to initiate or ‘‘trigger’’ convection might be a limiting factor in the model’s ability to produce accurate quantitative precipitation forecasts during the monsoon. Since the MM5 planetary boundary layer predicted by the Burk‐Thompson and Eta schemes does not accurately reproduce the basic structure of the monsoon planetary boundary layer, their inclusion in a mixed physics ensemble is discussed.

Thermodynamic structure of the monsoon boundary layer under the influence of a large-scale depression

Using data from the MONsoon Trough Boundary Layer EXperiment (MONTBLEX), the thermodynamic structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) under the influence of a monsoon depression has been studied. When the depression was in the vicinity of the observing station, the soundings showed an increase in potential temperature, the sub-cloud layer was well mixed, the wind speed increased to 35 m/s, and the monsoon boundary layer was convectively more unstable at night than in the daytime. Cloud-top processes, which lead to an apparent breakdown of the boundary layer, seem to explain this.

Convective boundary layer in the region of the Monsoon Trough—A case study

A case study of the convectively driven monsoon boundary layer has been carried out using the acrological observations at four stations in the region of monsoon trough during Monsoon Trough Boundary Layer Experiment (MONTBLEX) 1988. The Convective Boundary Layer (CBL) in the region of monsoon trough did not show double mixing line structure. A single mixing line representing the CBL with different stabilities with respect to the convective activities was observed.

Convective mixing in the monsoon boundary layer

Aerological observations over a tropical inland station collected during different phases of the Indian summer monsoon have been used to study the convective mixing in the monsoon boundary layer. The mixing line (ML) model for the thermodynamic structure of a partially cloudy boundary layer has been used to estimate the mixing by convection. The ML model together with the saturation point approach is able to depict different convective mixing regimes in the monsoon boundary layer.

The Convective Boundary Layer during Active and Break Conditions of Summer Monsoon

Abstract A case study of the convective boundary layer (CBL) during active and break conditions of Indian summer monsoon has been carried out. Conserved variable analysis of the observations showed differences in CBL thermodynamic structures during active and break monsoon periods. The monsoon boundary layer structures during the summer monsoon are comparable with the FGGE CBL structures over tropical oceanic regions of Pacific.

Structure of the Indian southwesterly pre-monsoon and monsoon boundary layers: Observations and numerical simulation

Characteristics of pre-monsoon and monsoon boundary layer structure and turbulence were studied in New Delhi and Bangalore, India during the summer of 1987. Micrometeorological towers were installed and instrumented at these locations to provide mean and turbulent surface layer measurements, while information on the vertical structure of the atmosphere was obtained using miniradiosondes. Thermal structures of the pre-monsoon and monsoon boundary layers were quite distinct. The daytime, pre-monsoon boundary layer observed over New Delhi was much deeper than that of the monsoon boundary layer observed over Bangalore and at times was characterized by multiple inversions. Surface, turbulent sensible heat fluxes at both sites were approximately the same (235 and 200 Wm −2 for New Delhi and Bangalore, respectively). Diurnal variations in the monsoon boundary layer at Bangalore were more regular compared to those under pre-monsoon conditions at New Delhi. One-dimensional numerical simulations of the pre-monsoon boundary layer using a turbulent energy closure scheme show good agreement with observations.

A comparison of the significant features of the marine boundary layers over the east central Arabian Sea and the north central Bay of Bengal during MONEX-79

Low-level mean and turbulence data from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Electra aircraft in conjunction with dropwindsondes and ship observations during MONEX.79 were used to compare the typical structures of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal monsoon boundary layers. Analysis indicates significant differences in-both mean and turbulence structures, The presence of a strong low level Somali jet over the east central Arabian Sea significantly increases turbulent fluxes and variances. Monsoon boundary layer over the north central Bay of Bengal in which wind speeds were significantly reduced showed a decrease in heat and momentum fluxes by approximately 10 to 30 % throughout the boundary layer as compared to the Arabian Sea region. Boundary layer heights over the Arabian Sea were two to three times greater than those observed over the Bay of Bengal. Shear and buoyancy production in the turbulent kinetic energy budget are found to be significant to roughly twice the height in the boundary layer over the Arabian Sea as against the Bay of Bengal.

A study of mean boundary-layer structures over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during active and break monsoon periods

Observations from research ships which took part in the Indo-Soviet Monsoon Experiment of 1977 (MONSOON 77) and the International Monsoon Experiments (MONEX 79) over the central Arabian Sea and the north central Bay of Bengal were analyzed to study the mean wind and temperature structure of the monsoon boundary layer during active and break conditions. Mean profiles of wind speed and direction along with virtual potential temperature obtained by averaging data from several research ships during 1977 and 1979 indicate that onset conditions were associated with substantial increases in wind speed over the Arabian Sea and a shift to strong southwest flow. Monsoon onset was also characterized by near-neutral to slightly unstable temperature profiles in the lowest kilometer. Break conditions in 1977 in which the monsoon trough moved northward and substantial (5 mb) pressure rises were noted over the Arabian Sea show wind speeds typically decreasing from approximately 18 m s−1 during active conditions to roughly 8 m s −1. Temperature profiles during break conditions are similar to those observed in pre-monsoon conditions in that the boundary layer is observed to be generally much more stable up to 900 mb. Above 900 mb, profiles of virtual potential temperature show little variation.

Observations of the Mean and Turbulence Structure of the Marine Boundary Layer over the Bay of Bengal during MONEX 79

Abstract Radiosondes from Soviet ships along with dropsondes and mean and turbulence data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Electra gust probe aircraft are analyzed to infer the structure of the monsoon marine boundary layer during MONEX 79. Results of mean wind profiles indicate the existence of a jetlike structure in the upper part of the boundary layer during the more suppressed “monsoon-break” conditions. The thermal structure of the monsoon boundary layer during these break conditions is characterized by near-neutral to slightly unstable conditions. There was an approximate balance of form in the monsoon boundary layer between advective acceleration, friction and geostrophic departure. Advective acceleration was found to be a significant term, especially in the lower levels of the boundary layer. This contrasts with typical trade-wind boundary layers in which acceleration is generally negligible. Results indicate that turbulence statistics associated with wind speed components ...

Variation of turbulence in the marine boundary layer over the Arabian Sea during indian southwest monsoon (MONEX 79)

Analysis of high frequency (20 Hz) turbulence data collected from low level flights by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Electra aircraft over the central Arabian Sea on 20 and 24 June, 1979 as part of MONEX 79 indicates the influence of the Somali Jet on boundary-layer turbulence. Different stages of monsoon development were evident on the two observation days from mean boundary-layer profiles. However, turbulence statistics of wind speed components and temperature in the monsoon boundary layer for both days are generally greater than those observed in laboratory experiments or tropical and trade wind boundary layers in which a strong jet was not present. Analysis of high frequency wind, temperature and humidity data was made to obtain fluxes of momentum and heat. Magnitudes of the sensible and latent heat fluxes are three to five times larger than the values observed over the monsoon boundary layer over the Bay of Bengal. The turbulent kinetic energy budget over the Arabian Sea for 24 June indicates the importance of buoyancy, and to a lesser extent shear as the dominant term. Dissipation serves as the primary sink term.

Features of thermals in stable wake and neutral stratifications in the disturbed monsoon boundary layer

Thermals, defined as humidity excesses, seem to exhibit distinct features in the disturbed Indian Monsoon Boundary Layer (BL) depending on whether they occur in the stable wake regions, called S in this study, of tropical squalls, or in the neutral regions of the advancing squalls, called N. The stable S region developed weak but gradually increasing ascending motion in the BL while the N region showed strong upward motion at the top of the surface layer (85 m) decreasing steadily thereafter. Similar differences also appear in the other mean thermal fields such as temperature and humidity.

Aircraft and ship observations of the mean structure of the marine boundary layer over the Arabian Sea during MONEX 79

Analysis of the mean wind, equivalent potential temperature and virtual potential temperature profiles observed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Electra aircraft and obtained from dropwindsondes and ship-launched radiosondes were made in conjunction with synoptic observations to study the structure of the monsoon boundary layer over the Arabian Sea during MONEX 79. Comparison of mean profiles indicates the monsoon boundary layer to be much different from the trade wind boundary layer. Results confirm the existence of a boundary-layer jet known as East African or Somali Jet. Regions of multiple cloud layers at roughly the height of the capping inversion layer were associated with the jet. Regions in which a more well-mixed layer was observed showed a jet structure depressed in height. A free-jet surface-layer model appears to describe the mean wind structure of this jet observed during the present study and by others. An approximate balance of forces was found in the monsoon boundary layer between friction, advective acceleration, Coriolis and pressure gradient forces. Friction and advective acceleration terms were significant in the lower levels of the boundary layer. Forces in a typical trade wind boundary layer were found to be approximately one order of magnitude smaller than those observed in the monsoon boundary layer.

Structures of the Monsoon Low–Level Flow and the Monsoon Boundary Layer over the East Central Arabian Sea

Abstract The monsoon boundary layer was subjected to aerial measurements by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Electra on 20 and 24 June 1979 as part of the Arabian Sea component of the Summer Monsoon Experiment (MONEX). Gust probe (also called fast response or turbulence) measurements of u (eastward), v (northward), w, T and ρv, (absolute humidity), available from 80 to 550 m are used to compute turbulent fluxes, while slow response (one-second) measurements of u, v, T and Td available from 80 to 20 m, are used to relate thew fluxes to the low-level flow. The turbulence Rights on 20 June were made under an extensive synoptic scale cloud system. Within this cloud system variations in the cloud type and convective activity occurred between the two areas where intensive boundary layer (RL) measurements were made. The southern area, which had lower ρv values, was dominated by multiple cloud layers, downward virtual heat flux, weak upward moisture flux in the BL, and a sharply defined jet str...