Open AccessStructure and formation of the highly stable marine boundary layer over the Gulf of Maine
Author(s) -
Angevine Wayne M.,
Hare J. E.,
Fairall C. W.,
Wolfe Daniel E.,
Hill R. J.,
Brewer W. A.,
White Allen B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006jd007465
Subject(s) - boundary layer , mixed layer , submarine pipeline , planetary boundary layer , shore , geology , troposphere , atmosphere (unit) , potential temperature , oceanography , flow (mathematics) , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , meteorology , geography , physics , geometry , mathematics , thermodynamics
A shallow, stable boundary layer is ubiquitous over the cool waters of the Gulf of Maine in summer. This layer affects pollutant transport throughout the region by isolating overlying flow from the surface. In this paper, we explore how the stable boundary layer is formed and describe its characteristics. The temperature profile of the lowest 1–2 km of the atmosphere over the Gulf of Maine is remarkably similar regardless of transport time over water or the time of day when the flow left the land, provided only that the flow is offshore. This similarity is forced by the (roughly) constant water temperature and the (roughly) constant temperature of the free troposphere over the continent. However, the processes leading to the similar profiles are quite different depending on the time of day when the flow crosses the coast. Air leaving the coast at night already has a stable profile, whereas air leaving the coast at midday or afternoon has a deep mixed layer. In the latter case, the stable layer formation over the water is of interest. Using observations of surface fluxes, profiles, and winds on the NOAA Research Vessel Ronald H. Brown from the 2004 International Consortium for Atmospheric Research in Transport and Transformation (ICARTT)/New England Air Quality Study, we show that the formation of the stable layer, which involves cooling a roughly 50‐ to 100‐m‐deep layer by 5–15 K, occurs within 10 km and a half hour after leaving the coast. The internal boundary layer near shore is deeper than predicted by standard relationships. Historical data are explored and also show deeper internal boundary layers than predicted. We also describe one exceptional case where a 200‐m‐deep neutral layer was observed and discuss the degree of isolation of the stable boundary layer and its duration.