Abstract
Wind fields, especially in the lowest few km of the surface, drive precipitation development – a key process in the hydrologic cycle. The linkages between the surface (soil, vegetation, lakes, buildings), atmospheric circulation, and rain systems are most direct during the warm season. These linkages, however, are particularly complex, difficult to model, and challenging to observe in the Great Lakes area, due to the irregular mix of lake and land areas over which the air flows.
Last summer, we participated in an NSF-funded field project (MITTEN-CI), led by Central Michigan University, to improve our understanding of lake-breezes, the spatial evolution of coastal thermal and mechanical instability, thunderstorm initiation, and the modulation of the surface air as it moves between Lake Michigan and surrounding land areas. We deployed the ISWS/PRI/UIUC Halo scanning atmospheric Doppler LiDAR, six flux towers spread along a 120 km-long line and a Graw balloon radiosonde system. Our observations will be combined with those taken by mobile dual-Doppler radars, over-lake UAV helicopter flights, and two mobile mesonet operated by four collaborating universities.
Not only will the presentation highlight surprising unforested weather during the project (i.e., pulsing lake breeze fronts and multi-updraft convective patterns associated with them, frontal vortices, entraining thunderstorm outflows, etc.) but other recent and potential applications for our detailed atmospheric observation system.
This Seminar will be held in Illinois State water Survey Conference Room 201,2204 Griffith Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 or you may join virtually at:
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Meeting ID: 225 846 397 563 0
Passcode: hW7s6ud3