Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

MCC and gull flight behavior

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wintertime observations of mesoscale cellular convection (MCC) over the East China Sea have resulted in criteria that have a remarkable similarity to those reported by Woodcock (1975) in the study of thermals and gull flight behavior. It has been determined that the surface wind speed (V) and the air-sea temperature difference (δT) prescribe unique and compatible conditons for both the occurrence of MCC and soaring by sea gulls. Specifically, the onset of MCC when V is between 5 and 9 m s−1 is inversely proportional to δT in the range 5 to 7 °C. Elsewhere, the onset of MCC occurs under conditions of direct proportionality between V and δT. Necessary conditions for the occurrence of MCC due to heating from below are δT ⩾ 5 °C and V ⩾ 5 m s−1. The boundaries of the convective regime for MCC are discussed and interpreted in accordance with the regime for sea-gull soaring and similarity concepts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agee, E. M., Chen, T. S., and Dowell, K. E.: 1973, ‘A Review of Mesoscale Cellular Convection’, Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc. 54, 1004–1012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agee, E. M. and Dowell, K. E.: 1974, ‘Observational Studies of Mesoscale Cellular Convection’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 13, 46–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deardorff, J. W.: 1976, ‘Discussion of “Thermals over the sea and gull flight behavior” by A. H. Woodcock’, Boundary Layer Meteorol. 10, 241–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubert, L. F.: 1966, ‘Mesoscale Cellular Convection’, Meteor. Satellite Laboratory, Rep. No. 37, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Washington, D.C., 68 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, A. F. and Fritz, S.: 1961, ‘Cellular Cloud Patterns Revealed by TIROS I’, Tellus 13, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheu, P. J. and Agee, E. M.: 1977, ‘Kinematic Analysis and Air-Sea Heat Flux Associated with Mesoscale Cellular Convection During AMTEX 75’, J. Atmos. Sci., 34, 793–801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, E. K.: 1965, ‘Aerial micrometeorology’, in Agricultural Meteorology, Amer. Meteor. Soc. Monogr., 6, 27–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock, A. H.: 1940, ‘Convection and Soaring over the Open Sea’, J. Marine Res., 3, 248–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock, A. H.: 1975, ‘Thermals over the Sea and Gull Flight Behavior’, Boundary Layer Meteorol. 9, 63–68.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

    E. M. Agee & P. J. Sheu

Authors
  1. E. M. Agee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. J. Sheu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Agee, E.M., Sheu, P.J. MCC and gull flight behavior. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 14, 247–251 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122622

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122622

Keywords

Search

Navigation