Articles | Volume 15, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1185-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1185-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
08 Mar 2022
Research article |
| 08 Mar 2022
| 08 Mar 2022
Low-level buoyancy as a tool to understand boundary layer transitions
Francesca M. Lappin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, National Weather Center, Norman, OK, USA
Tyler M. Bell
Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, National Weather Center, Norman, OK, USA
NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, National Weather Center, Norman, OK, USA
Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, National Weather Center, Norman, OK, USA
Phillip B. Chilson
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Advanced Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
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Short summary
This study evaluates how a classically defined variable, air parcel buoyancy, can be used to interpret transitions in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). To capture the high-resolution variations, remotely piloted aircraft systems are used to collect data in two field campaigns. This paper finds that buoyancy has distinct evolutions prior to low-level jet and convective initiation cases. Additionally, buoyancy mixes well to act as an ABL height indicator comparable to other methods.
This study evaluates how a classically defined variable, air parcel buoyancy, can be used to...
