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The structure of the subpolar inversion-capped ABL

Die Struktur der subpolaren Inversionen in der atmosphärischen Grenzschicht

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Summary

The problem of polar and subpolar inversions is attacked. Thus a literature review of the exploration of the polar lower atmosphere is presented together with an attempt to classify these inversions, according to the participating processes, such as subsidence, advection and radiation. These physical processes are incorporated into a simple inversion model, giving the heights of inversion and cloud base, the radiative cooling rates and the vertical profiles of the thermodynamic quantities and the turbulent fluxes. The model is applied to a period with subsidence inversion over the Norwegian Sea during summer. The case study shows a good agreement between the results of the steady-state model and the mean observed thermodynamic structure of the atmospheric boundary layer.

Zusammenfassung

Die Erforschung der polaren und subpolaren atmosphärischen Grenzschicht wird in einer Literaturübersicht dargestellt. Anhand der bei der Entstehung beteiligten Prozesse wie großskaliges Absinken, Advektion und Strahlung wird eine Einteilung der Inversionen vorgenommen. Mit einem einfachen Modell, das diese Prozesse berücksichtigt, wird eine sommerliche Inversionslage über der Norwegischen See untersucht. Das Modell liefert die Höhen von Inversion und Wolkenbasis, die Strahlungsabkühlung und die Vertikalprofile der thermodynamischen Zustandsgrößen und der turbulenten Flüsse. Die Modellergeb nisse zeigen eine gute Übereinstimmung mit den Beobachtungen.

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Busch, N., Ebel, U., Kraus, H. et al. The structure of the subpolar inversion-capped ABL. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biocl. A. 31, 1–18 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257738

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