Investigating urban clear islands in fog and low stratus clouds in the San Joaquin Valley of California

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
In this study, 13 urban clear islands (UCI) episodes occurring near the urban footprint of Fresno, California, were observed via geostationary satellites. Shape and area analysis was performed with standard geographic information system utilities. The results of the study suggest that UCI's developing in close proximity to the same urban footprint vary markedly in rate of expansion, complexity of shape, and total clear area. The only surface meteorological parameters significantly associated with total clear area of the Fresno, UCI were 1) relative humidity in the urban footprint and 2) the difference in relative humidity between urban and rural observation sites. There was a significant statistical relationship between clear area at first observation and the total clear area at the end of the UCI expansion cycle.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2008, vol. 29, n°. 5, p. 442-454, nombre de pages : 13, Références bibliographiques : 12 ref.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis