Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

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The role of atmospheric dynamics under a Stratus Deck: Doppler lidar measurements during VOCALS 2008

Sara Tucker (1), Alan Brewer (2), Ann Weickmann (1), Scott Sandberg (2)

(1) Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado at Boulder, and NOAA Earth System Research Library (ESRL), Boulder CO, USA (2) NOAA Earth System Research Library (ESRL), Boulder CO, USA

We present Doppler lidar data acquired during ship-based portion of VOCALS (VAMOS Ocean-Cloud-Atmosphere-Land Study, VAMOS = Variability of the American Monsoon Systems) that took place during October and November 2008. We present a preliminary look at some of the atmospheric dynamics observed over the Southeastern Pacific and the relationships these dynamics have with the modulation and/or maintenance of the stratus deck in that region. We focus on atmospheric boundary layer decoupling, and strength and type of turbulence including cloud-cooling driven convection, ocean driven convection, and wind shear driven mechanical turbulence.