Synoptic meteorology and transport during the North Atlantic Regional Experiment (NARE) intensive: Overview

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

12-20-1996

Abstract

Analyses of meteorological conditions during the North Atlantic Regional Experiment (NARE) intensive period, defined here as August 1 through September 13, 1993, indicate that transport in the study region in Nova Scotia was influenced by several well-defined synoptic disturbances (weak frontal passages or troughs) and by intervening periods of slowly varying transport conditions. Using trajectory analysis, synoptic charts, and other meteorological products, we have characterized these conditions and indicated the transitions in transport in relation to the synoptic scale meteorological situation. The ideal meteorological scenario for delivering pollution plumes from the U.S. East Coast urban areas over the Gulf of Maine to the Maritime Provinces of Canada is shown to be warm sector flow ahead of an advancing cold front. In addition, for two of these frontal passages we have discussed some of the smaller-scale effects which appear to have influenced the transport and or the composition of air masses reaching the NARE intensive region. Finally, we compare the conditions actually encountered during the field campaign with our idealized conceptual model of warm sector transport.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres

Volume

101

Issue

22

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