On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa

Using the well-known method of Holzworth (1964) which is based on finding the intersections of upper-air soundings with the dry-adiabat of maximum surface temperatures to estimate the convective mixed-layer depth (MLD), we have obtained in this study representative values of this parameter from an 1...

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Main Author: Oluwagbemiga O Jegede
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Borntraeger 1994-12-01
Series:Meteorologische Zeitschrift
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/metz/3/1994/307
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author Oluwagbemiga O Jegede
author_facet Oluwagbemiga O Jegede
author_sort Oluwagbemiga O Jegede
collection DOAJ
description Using the well-known method of Holzworth (1964) which is based on finding the intersections of upper-air soundings with the dry-adiabat of maximum surface temperatures to estimate the convective mixed-layer depth (MLD), we have obtained in this study representative values of this parameter from an 11-year monthly mean tropospheric data compiled for the West African sub-region. The mean MLD shows recognizable seasonal and spatial variations which is in conformity with the synoptic-scale circulation conditions over the study area. The annual variation indicates a bimodal distribution with the maximum depth of about 1500 m in February (or April for the areas north of 12°N) and in November. The lowest depth of about 650 m is found during the month of August which coincides with the peak of the monsoon season in West Africa. A quantitative relationship for the annual variation of the MLD is also obtained. The MLD values realised are then discussed in relation to the air pollution potential of the West African area.
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spelling doaj.art-b99a34d5eb0d4d7986a75d679b51f0382024-02-08T08:11:48ZengBorntraegerMeteorologische Zeitschrift0941-29481994-12-013630731110.1127/metz/3/1994/30789571On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West AfricaOluwagbemiga O JegedeUsing the well-known method of Holzworth (1964) which is based on finding the intersections of upper-air soundings with the dry-adiabat of maximum surface temperatures to estimate the convective mixed-layer depth (MLD), we have obtained in this study representative values of this parameter from an 11-year monthly mean tropospheric data compiled for the West African sub-region. The mean MLD shows recognizable seasonal and spatial variations which is in conformity with the synoptic-scale circulation conditions over the study area. The annual variation indicates a bimodal distribution with the maximum depth of about 1500 m in February (or April for the areas north of 12°N) and in November. The lowest depth of about 650 m is found during the month of August which coincides with the peak of the monsoon season in West Africa. A quantitative relationship for the annual variation of the MLD is also obtained. The MLD values realised are then discussed in relation to the air pollution potential of the West African area.http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/metz/3/1994/307troposphericwest african sub-regiondry-adiabatmonsoon seasonair pollutiontroposphärischwestafrikanische subregiontrockenadiabatemonsun-saisonluftverschmutzung
spellingShingle Oluwagbemiga O Jegede
On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa
Meteorologische Zeitschrift
tropospheric
west african sub-region
dry-adiabat
monsoon season
air pollution
troposphärisch
westafrikanische subregion
trockenadiabate
monsun-saison
luftverschmutzung
title On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa
title_full On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa
title_fullStr On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa
title_full_unstemmed On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa
title_short On the variations in the mean convective mixed-layer depth over West Africa
title_sort on the variations in the mean convective mixed layer depth over west africa
topic tropospheric
west african sub-region
dry-adiabat
monsoon season
air pollution
troposphärisch
westafrikanische subregion
trockenadiabate
monsun-saison
luftverschmutzung
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/metz/3/1994/307
work_keys_str_mv AT oluwagbemigaojegede onthevariationsinthemeanconvectivemixedlayerdepthoverwestafrica