Download atms_749_6N0v08_met

The Meteorology Leading up
to and on Measurement Day
Reno 11/05 00Z Sounding
• Cold and
moist near
surface
• Under the
trough still
with
clouds
present
Reno 11/05 12Z Sounding
• Morning
shows a
small
inversion
but not
strong
• Winds from
the north
keep up
cool and in
the trough
Reno 11/06 00Z Sounding
• Moisture
advection on
the back side of
the trough
indicates a
small
shortwave
disturbance
• The moisture
creates cloud
overnight from
the afternoon to
morning
Reno 11/06 12Z Sounding
• Clouds
present in the
morning on
measurement
day but not in
a thick layer
• The inversion
was not strong
due to the
cloud layer
• Likely to burn
off throughout
the day
Reno 11/07 00Z Sounding
• Drying out in the
lower levels
• There is a slight
increase near 425
mb where the
cirrus cloud were
likely to have
formed during the
day from contrails
• A stable layer just
below 700 mb
caps the
boundary layer
just a little below
the high peak
levels
Reno 11/07 12Z Sounding
• A much
deeper
inversion the
following
morning
• No clouds
present
which
allowed for
better
radiative
cooling
UNR Farm
• Cold air is present in
the days prior
• The next morning the
temperature dipped
to the dewpoint and
most likely there was
frost
• Wind are much
lighter and variable
on the back side of
the trough
• We can also see the
solar radiation track
become more
constant and less
variable
DRI Station
• Cold air is present
again
• The max and min are
not as sharp as after
the trough moves out
• Winds are much
weaker after the
trough and there is no
longer any
precipitation as when
the trough passed
• The rising pressure
notes the building high
pressure anticyclone
Conclusion
• The back side of the trough leads to clearer
skies
• These clear skies lead to much larger
temperature spread in the Nevada desert from
day to night
• On our measurement day the lingering water
vapor produce some cloud with interesting
radiative effects
• Over night clouds can keep night time
temperatures up and clouds during the day can
keep day time temperatures down (Depending
on the type of cloud)