The Effects of Large-Scale Winds on the Sea–Land-Breeze Circulations in an Area of Complex Coastal Heating

Authors:
  • SZShiyuan Zhong
    Shiyuan Zhong
  • ETEugene S. Takle
    Eugene S. Takle
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Abstract
A three-dimensional mesoscale numerical model has been used to examine the effects of large-scale background winds on the characteristics of the sea–land-breeze circulations over an area with an irregular coastline and complex surface-heating patterns at Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral in Florida. A series of numerical experiments was performed in which the large-scale winds were varied in both speed and direction. The surface heating was based on measured surface-temperature variation from the Kennedy Space Center Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (KABLE) during the spring season when the land–sea temperature gradient reaches its maximum. The results from the simulations compared reasonably well with data available from KABLE. The results show that an onshore large-scale flow produces weaker sea-breeze perturbations compared to those generated by an offshore flow. However, the coastal rivers and lagoons create intense surface convergence with strong vertical motion on the seaward side of... Abstract A three-dimensional mesoscale numerical model has been used to examine the effects of large-scale background winds on the characteristics of the sea–land-breeze circulations over an area with an irregular coastline and complex surface-heating patterns at Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral in Florida. A series of numerical experiments was performed in which the large-scale winds were varied in both speed and direction. The surface heating was based on measured surface-temperature variation from the Kennedy Space Center Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (KABLE) during the spring season when the land–sea temperature gradient reaches its maximum. The results from the simulations compared reasonably well with data available from KABLE. The results show that an onshore large-scale flow produces weaker sea-breeze perturbations compared to those generated by an offshore flow. However, the coastal rivers and lagoons create intense surface convergence with strong vertical motion on the seaward side of...