dc.contributor.author |
Esau, Igor
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Luhunga, Philbert Modest
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Djolov, George D.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Rautenbach, Cornelis Johannes de Wet
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Zilitinkevich, Sergej
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2014-06-13T10:00:37Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2014-06-13T10:00:37Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2012-03 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Links between spatial and temporal variability of Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL)
meteorological quantities and existing land use patterns are still poorly understood due to
the non-linearity of air-land interaction processes. This study describes the results of a
statistical analysis of meteorological observations collected by a network of ten
Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs). The stations were in operation in the Highveld
Priority Area (HPA) of the Republic of South Africa during 2008 – 2010. The analysis
revealed localization, enhancement and homogenization in the inter-station variability of
observed meteorological quantities (temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) over
diurnal and seasonal cycles. Enhancement of the meteorological spatial variability was
found on a broad range of scales from 20 to 50 km during morning hours and in the dry
winter season. These spatial scales are comparable to scales of observed land use
heterogeneity, which suggests links between atmospheric variability and land use patterns
through excitation of horizontal meso-scale circulations. Convective motions
homogenized and synchronized meteorological variability during afternoon hours in the
winter seasons, and during large parts of the day during the moist summer season. The
analysis also revealed that turbulent convection overwhelms horizontal meso-scale
circulations in the study area during extensive parts of the annual cycle. |
en_US |
dc.description.librarian |
hb2013 |
en_US |
dc.description.sponsorship |
The authors would like to acknowledge the bilateral Norway–South Africa project
180343/S50 “Analysis and the Possibility for Control of Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Processes to Facilitate Adaptation to Environmental Changes” co-funded by the South
African National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Norwegian Research Council
(NRC). A significant part of this work has been developed under the NRC project
191516/V30 “Planetary boundary layer feedback in the Earth's Climate System”, under
the European Research Council Advanced Grant, FP7-IDEAS, 227915 “Atmospheric
planetary boundary layers: physics, modeling and its role in the Earth system”, and under
a grant from the Government of the Russian Federation (project code 11.G34.31.0048). |
en_US |
dc.description.uri |
http://link.springer.com/journal/703 |
en_US |
dc.identifier.citation |
Esau, I, Luhunga, P, Djolov, G, Rautenbach, CJ de W & Zilitinkevich, S 2012, 'Links between observed micro-meteorological variability and land-use patterns in the highveld priority area of South Africa', Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, vol. 118, no. 3-4, pp. 129-142. |
en_US |
dc.identifier.issn |
0177-7971 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
1436-5065 (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1007/s00703-012-0218-4 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40159 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_US |
dc.publisher |
Springer |
en_US |
dc.rights |
© Springer-Verlag Wien 2012. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com. |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Micro-meteorology |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Planetary boundary layer |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Air-land interactions |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Statistical data analysis |
en_US |
dc.title |
Links between observed micro-meteorological variability and land-use patterns in the highveld priority area of South Africa |
en_US |
dc.type |
Postprint Article |
en_US |