Model Climatology of the Mexican Monsoon

Stensrud, David J.; Gall, Robert; Mullen, Steven L.; Howard, Kenneth W.

doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1995)008<1775:mcotmm>2.0.co;2

Cited by 135 publications

(72 citation statements)

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“…In addition, the high-pressure ridge seen in the 700-and 500-mbar height patterns is significant, as is the sea-level pressure pattern described above. This latter finding agrees with previous work that shows midlatitude synoptic activity can affect the strength and timing of these surge events [Stensrud et al, 1995]. Of interest here, though, is the fact that there is a statistically significant correlation between the tropical low-pressure center to the west of Baja California and increased low-level southerlies over the A case study of the time evolution of these upper air patterns is presented in Figure 11.…”

supporting

confidence: 93%

Large‐scale forcing of summertime monsoon surges over the Gulf of California and the southwestern United States

Anderson¹,

Roads²,

Chen³

2000

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. Synoptic forcing of the Gulf of California summertime low-level wind field is described using a nested regional modeling system. Under appropriate synoptic conditions, strong surge events develop that are characterized by persistent, vertically extensive (1-2 km) southerly flow extending along the entire Gulf of California and into Arizona, California, and even southern Nevada. These surge periods are initiated either by tropical-cyclone activity to the south of Baja California or by the westward propagation of lower tropospheric troughs from over the Sierra Madre Occidental to the eastern Pacific. The flow over the Gulf is primarily geostrophic and is associated with the presence of these low-pressure centers to the south and west of Baja California.

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supporting

confidence: 93%

Large‐scale forcing of summertime monsoon surges over the Gulf of California and the southwestern United States

Anderson¹,

Roads²,

Chen³

2000

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…Results indicate that the MOS forecasts in general are significantly better for the stations at high elevations, whereas the MM4 simulated temperatures in general are better for the stations at lower elevations (Table 3). This suggests that the convective parameterization scheme within MM4 is having difficulty reproducing the correct timing of convective development over the regions of higher terrain (as noted in Stensrud et al 1995). However, in regions where the model parameterization schemes are behaving well, the mesoscale model temperature simulations are quite good.…”

Section: Hourly Temperature Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Comparisons of the mean observed and modeled fields from these 32 days of mesoscale model simulation document clearly that the MM4 reproduces many of the observed structures associated with the monsoon, including southerly low-level flow over the Gulf of California, upslope flow during the daytime along the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental in western Mexico, the diurnal cycle of convection, and a lowlevel jet that develops at the northern end of the Gulf of California (Stensrud et al 1995). The next step in the evaluation of these model simulations is to determine whether or not the model provides day-to-day forecast utility over the southwestern United States.…”

Section: Model Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Gridpoint Predictions of High Temperature from a Mesoscale Model

Stensrud¹,

Skindlov²

1996

Wea. Forecasting

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Mesoscale model gridpoint temperature data from simulations in the southwestern United States during the summer of 1990 are compared with both observations and statistical guidance from large-scale models over a 32-day period. Although the raw model temperature data at the lowest sigma level typically are much lower than observed, when the mean temperature bias is removed, the model values of high temperature compare favorably with both observations and operational statistical guidance products. A simple 7-day running mean bias calculation that could be used in an operational environment is tested and also found to produce good results. These comparisons suggest that the ability of mesoscale model gridpoint data to produce useful and accurate forecast products through the use of very simple bias corrections should be explored fully as mesoscale model data become routinely available.

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“…It is particularly noticeable in the 8-11 July profile because of the dryness of the air beneath it. Stensrud et al (1995) discuss a diurnal land breeze at this altitude, consistent with the mostly easterly winds. Over land, the relative humidity at 2-km altitude is typically higher than it is over the gulf (Johnson et al 2007).…”

Section: Atmospherementioning

confidence: 80%

On Air–Sea Interaction at the Mouth of the Gulf of California

et al. 2007

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Surface flux, wind profiler, oceanic temperature and salinity, and atmospheric moisture, cloud, and wind observations gathered from the R/V Altair during the North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) are presented. The vessel was positioned at the mouth of the Gulf of California halfway between La Paz and Mazatlan (ϳ23.5°N, 108°W), from 7 July to 11 August 2004, with a break from 22 to 27 July. Experimentmean findings include a net heat input from the atmosphere into the ocean of 70 W m . Total accumulated rainfall amounted to 42 mm. The oceanic mixed layer had a depth of approximately 20 m and both warmed and freshened during the experiment, despite a dominance of evaporation over local precipitation. The mean atmospheric boundary layer depth was approximately 410 m, deepening with time from an initial value of 350 m. The mean near-surface relative humidity was 66%, increasing to 73% at the top of the boundary layer. The rawinsondes documented an additional moist layer between 2-and 3-km altitude associated with a land-sea breeze, and a broad moist layer at 5-6 km associated with land-based convective outflow. The observational period included a strong gulf surge around 13 July associated with the onset of the summer monsoon in southern Arizona. During this surge, mean 1000-700-hPa winds reached 12 m s Ϫ1, net surface fluxes approached zero, and the atmosphere moistened significantly but little rainfall occurred. The experiment-mean wind diurnal cycle was dominated by mainland Mexico and consisted of a near-surface westerly sea breeze along with two easterly return flows, one at 2-3 km and another at 5-6 km. Each of these altitudes experienced nighttime cloudiness. The corresponding modulation of the radiative cloud forcing diurnal cycle provided a slight positive feedback upon the sea surface temperature. Two findings were notable. One was an advective warming of over 1°C in the oceanic mixed layer temperature associated with the 13 July surge. The second was the high nighttime cloud cover fraction at 5-6 km, dissipating during the day. These clouds appeared to be thin, stratiform, slightly supercooled liquid-phase clouds. The preference for the liquid phase increases the likelihood that the clouds can be advected farther from their source and thereby contribute to a higher-altitude horizontal moisture flux into the United States.

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Model Climatology of the Mexican Monsoon

Cited by 135 publications

References 1 publication

Large‐scale forcing of summertime monsoon surges over the Gulf of California and the southwestern United States

Large‐scale forcing of summertime monsoon surges over the Gulf of California and the southwestern United States

Gridpoint Predictions of High Temperature from a Mesoscale Model

On Air–Sea Interaction at the Mouth of the Gulf of California

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