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Response of the Land‐Atmosphere System Over North‐Central Oklahoma During the 2017 Eclipse
Author(s) -
Turner D. D.,
Wulfmeyer V.,
Behrendt A.,
Bonin T. A.,
Choukulkar A.,
Newsom R. K.,
Brewer W. A.,
Cook D. R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl076908
Subject(s) - sensible heat , solar eclipse , boundary layer , atmospheric sciences , eclipse , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , flux (metallurgy) , convection , turbulence , planetary boundary layer , heat flux , momentum (technical analysis) , meteorology , climatology , geology , heat transfer , physics , mechanics , materials science , astronomy , finance , economics , metallurgy
On 21 August 2017, a solar eclipse occurred over the continental United States resulting in a rapid reduction and subsequent increase of solar radiation over a large region of the country. The eclipse's effect on the land‐atmosphere system is documented in unprecedented detail using a unique array of sensors deployed at three sites in north‐central Oklahoma. The observations showed that turbulent fluxes of heat and momentum at the surface responded quickly to the change in solar radiation. The decrease in the sensible heat flux resulted in a decrease in the air temperature below 200 m, and a large decrease in turbulent motions throughout the boundary layer. Furthermore, the turbulent mixing in the boundary layer lagged behind the change in the surface fluxes, and this lag depended on the height above the surface. The turbulent motions increased and the convective boundary layer was reestablished as the sensible heat flux recovered.