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- Title
The life cycle of the heatwave boundary layer identified from commercial aircraft observations at Melbourne Airport (Australia).
- Authors
Qinuo Huang; Reeder, Michael J.; Jakob, Christian; King, Malcolm J.; Chun-Hsu Su
- Abstract
Although undoubtedly important to the dynamics of heatwaves, the role of the boundary layer has received relatively little attention. Here, a 16-year (2003-2018) record of commercial aircraft observations centred on Melbourne Airport (37.7°S, 144.8°E) is used to investigate the structure and evolution of the boundary layer during summertime heatwaves in Victoria. Composite means show that the daytime boundary layer is deeper during heatwaves than at other times, whereas the heatwave boundary layer during the night and early morning is shallower and more stable. A strong northerly nocturnal jet forms slightly below the top of the inversion, presumably transporting hotter air above the boundary layer overnight. A deep mixed layer develops rapidly after sunrise, mixing downward high-momentum air from the nocturnal jet. For heatwaves lasting for 3 days, the nocturnal jet progressively strengthens each night. Heatwaves end in the afternoon or evening following the passage of a strong coastal front and the beginning of postfrontal cold air advection.
- Subjects
VICTORIA; BOUNDARY layer (Aerodynamics); LIFE cycles (Biology); MELBOURNE Airport; HEAT waves (Meteorology); FRONTS (Meteorology); MIXING height (Atmospheric chemistry); BUSINESS records; ADVECTION-diffusion equations
- Publication
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2023, Vol 149, Issue 757, p3440
- ISSN
0035-9009
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/qj.4566