Surface temperature lapse rates over complex terrain: Lessons from the Cascade Mountains

被引:346
作者
Minder, Justin R. [1 ]
Mote, Philip W. [3 ]
Lundquist, Jessica D. [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Washington, Dept Atmospher Sci, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
[2] Univ Washington, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
[3] Oregon State Univ, Coll Ocean & Atmospher Sci, Oregon Climate Change Res Inst, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
基金
美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION; SNOWPACK; NORTHERN; STATES; RADAR;
D O I
10.1029/2009JD013493
中图分类号
P4 [大气科学(气象学)];
学科分类号
0706 ; 070601 ;
摘要
The typically sparse distribution of weather stations in mountainous terrain inadequately resolves temperature variability. Accordingly, high-resolution gridding of climate data (for applications such as hydrological modeling) often relies on assumptions such as a constant surface temperature lapse rate (i.e., decrease of surface temperature with altitude) of 6.5 degrees C km(-1). Using an example of the Cascade Mountains, we describe the temporal and spatial variability of the surface temperature lapse rate, combining data from: (1) COOP stations, (2) nearby radiosonde launches, (3) a temporary dense network of sensors, (4) forecasts from the MM5 regional model, and (5) PRISM geo-statistical analyses. On the windward side of the range, the various data sources reveal annual mean lapse rates of 3.9-5.2 degrees C km(-1), substantially smaller than the often-assumed 6.5 degrees C km(-1). The data sets show similar seasonal and diurnal variability, with lapse rates smallest (2.5-3.5 degrees C km(-1)) in late-summer minimum temperatures, and largest (6.5-7.5 degrees C km(-1)) in spring maximum temperatures. Geographic (windward versus lee side) differences in lapse rates are found to be substantial. Using a simple runoff model, we show the appreciable implications of these results for hydrological modeling.
引用
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页数:13
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