Research Summaries

Back Radar and Electro-optical Ducting in the Stable Atmosphere over Water (REDSAW)

Fiscal Year 2021
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Meteorology
Investigator(s) Wang, Qing
Sponsor Office of Naval Research (Navy)
Summary This project intends to quantify the refractivity profiles in the stable boundary layers and their impact on electromagnetic wave (EM) propagation. The objectives are to understand the limitations of using evaporation duct height and strength for EM propagation in stable surface layers and identify alternative key parameters of the stable evaporation ducts to characterize EM propagation. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop improved representations of the evaporation ducts in the stable surface layers and their resultant impact on EM propagation, including seeking improvement or replacement of MOST in stable surface layer related to flux-profile relationship and Cn2 parameterization. We plan to make systematic sensitivity tests using a propagation model with various characteristics of the stable surface layer refractivity profile to identify the role of evaporation duct height, strength, and the vertical gradient and curvature of refractivity profiles. Extensive measurements will be conducted over the Gulf of California or the inland water of the Great Salt Lake or the Salton Sea depending on logistical feasibility to be identified in our first-year efforts. This research also intends to investigate marine stable internal boundary layer development and its interaction with the fetch-limited marine atmospheric surface layer downwind and assess the role of stable surface layer evaporation ducts in the presence of a deeper surface or surface-based ducts.
Keywords Evaporation Duct aircraft measurements stable boundary layers
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal