EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Gatebe et al. 1999
Gatebe, C.K., Tyson, P.D., Annegarn, H., Piketh, S. and Helas, G. (1999). A seasonal air transport climatology for Kenya. Journal of Geophysical Research 104: doi: 10.1029/1998JD200103. issn: 0148-0227.

A climatology of air transport to and from Kenya has been developed using kinematic trajectory modeling. Significant months for trajectory analysis have been determined from a classification of synoptic circulation fields. Five-point back and forward trajectory clusters to and from Kenya reveal that the transport corridors to Kenya are clearly bounded and well defined. Air reaching the country originates mainly from the Saharan region and northwestern Indian Ocean of the Arabian Sea in the Northern Hemisphere and from the Madagascan region of the Indian Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. Transport from each of these source regions show distinctive annual cycles related to the northeasterly Asian monsoon and the southeasterly trade wind maximum over Kenya in May. The Saharan transport in the lower troposphere is at a maximum when the subtropical high over northern Africa is strongly developed in the boreal winter. Air reaching Kenya between 700 and 500 hPa is mainly from Sahara and northwest Indian Ocean in the months of January and March, which gives way to southwest Indian Ocean flow in May and November. In contrast, air reaching Kenya at 400 hPa is mainly from southwest Indian Ocean in January and March, which is replaced by Saharan transport in May and November. Transport of air from Kenya is invariant, both spatially and temporally, in the tropical easterlies to the Congo Basin and Atlantic Ocean in comparison to the transport to the country. Recirculation of air has also been observed but on a limited and often local scale and not to the extent reported in southern Africa. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Middle atmosphere—constituent transport and chemistry, Global Change, Atmosphere (0315, 0325), Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Climatology, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Numerical modeling and data assimilation, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Ion chemistry of the atmosphere (2419, 2427), Hydrology, General or miscellaneous
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit