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Evaluating Near Surface Lapse Rates Over Complex Terrain Using an Embedded Micro-Logger Sensor Network in Great Basin National Park

Patrick, Nathan A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1403203851

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Atmospheric Sciences.
The Great Basin National Park (GBNP) embedded sensor network (ESN) consisting of Lascar micro-loggers was established in 2006 to characterize near surface temperature and humidity. With respect to micro-logger networks, based on available literature, GBNP's ESN contains the densest deployment of micro-loggers (currently 15) above 3000 m in North America for a limited local area. Primary purposes were to assess local climate conditions, evaluate how climate may be changing and support other research projects with meteorological data. In this work, surface temperature lapse rates and surface specific humidity lapse rates were calculated and analyzed on three different time scales (annual, seasonal and monthly) using linear regression. Furthermore, the ESN was subdivided into different geographic subsets which encompass different elevation ranges and landcover types. Results indicated a calculated study-wide (2006 - 2012) mean annual temperature lapse rate, -6.0°C km-1, compared favorably to the common environmental lapse rate (ELR) value of -6.5°C km-1. However, surface temperature lapse rates varied considerably for different geographic subsets and time scales. Mean monthly temperature lapse rates for the entire study area varied from -3.8°C km-1 in January to -7.3°C km-1 in June. Additional variability was introduced when elevation zones were considered. For locations below 3000 m (all QC data), the mean monthly temperature lapse rate ranged from -3.6°C km-1 in January to -9.1°C km-1 in August. Perhaps more significant, in May and summer (JJA) surface lapse rates below 3000 m became quite steep. Here, surface lapse rates exceeded -9.0°C km-1 and approached the dry adiabatic lapse rate. Above 3000 m, surface mean monthly temperature lapse rates were more compressed ranging from -4.5°C km-1 in May to -7.3°C km-1 in September. Throughout summer, mean monthly temperature lapse rate differences between high elevations (> 3000 m) and low elevations (< 3000 m) exceeded 3.0°C km-1. Reduced differences occurred in other months but lower elevations continued to have steeper mean monthly temperature lapse rates. These results indicated using a common ELR (-6.5°C km-1) to interpolate surface temperatures will introduce bias and error for processes using sub-annual resolution. Another objective of this study was assessing Lascar sensor drift by completing a relative sensor calibration and drift study. This was done by comparing 13 brand new un-deployed Lascars with other meteorological instruments and then deploying them alongside existing Lascars in a dual deployment configuration at 10 locations within the ESN. Results indicated overall drift was not a problem during the one year comparison. Some locations did exhibit characteristics of minor drift but the impact was negligible. Finally, near surface temperature lapse rates above 3000 m were compared to free air equivalent lapse rates derived from using nearby radiosonde data. The hypothesis tested was the upper portions of GBNP behave like the free air and terrestrial processes have a minimal impact on the temperature structure of the surface. Results suggested that outside the summit of Wheeler Peak, the upper elevations of GBNP did not behave like the free air and surface temperatures were a result of terrestrial processes interacting with the atmosphere.
Bryan Mark (Advisor)
Jialin Lin (Committee Member)
Michael Durand (Committee Member)
278 p.
Atmospheric Sciences; Environmental Science; Geography; Geophysical; Hydrologic Sciences; Hydrology; Meteorology; Physical Geography; Water Resource Management
Lapse Rates; Great Basin; Micro-Logger; Micro Logger; lascar; Specific Humidity; Surface Temperatures; Complex Terrain; mountain geography; National Park; Hydrology; Dry Adiabatic; Saturated Adiabatic; Environmental Lapse Rate; Free Air; Calibration

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Citations

  • Patrick, N. A. (2014). Evaluating Near Surface Lapse Rates Over Complex Terrain Using an Embedded Micro-Logger Sensor Network in Great Basin National Park [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1403203851

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Patrick, Nathan. Evaluating Near Surface Lapse Rates Over Complex Terrain Using an Embedded Micro-Logger Sensor Network in Great Basin National Park. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1403203851.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Patrick, Nathan. "Evaluating Near Surface Lapse Rates Over Complex Terrain Using an Embedded Micro-Logger Sensor Network in Great Basin National Park." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1403203851

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1403203851
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.