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Detailed Reference Information
Das et al. 2004
Das, S.S., Kumar, K.K., Jain, A.R., Rao, D.N. and Nakamura, K. (2004). Observations of trapped humidity layer and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability using UHF radar and GPS sonde. Radio Science 39: doi: 10.1029/2003RS003003. issn: 0048-6604.

UHF radar observations at Gadanki (13.47¿N, 79.18¿E) and Vaisala type GPS sonde measurements of atmospheric thermodynamic parameters (temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction) from Tirupati (13.63¿N, 79.40¿E) have shown two distinct features of the lower troposphere over this region. One of the features is the observation of trapped humidity layer just above the boundary layer. These trapped humidity layers and associated gradients are observed to contribute significantly to the UHF radar backscattering, especially at the edges of the humidity layer. The second phenomenon is the observation of a long-lasting Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI), at the height of ~3 km, which lasted for about ~210 min. The UHF radar vertical beam echo power has shown the characteristic power bursts pattern associated with KHI. The characteristic wavelength and time period of KHI waves are found to be 3.78 km and 18.4 min, respectively. Thus these results illustrate two important processes in the lower tropical troposphere, which are very important in UHF radar backscattering.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Boundary layer processes, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Tropical meteorology, Space Plasma Physics, Waves and instabilities, Radio Science, Radar atmospheric physics, UHF radar, humidity layers, Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
Journal
Radio Science
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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