OLR(1979)26(12) 789

D. MARINE METEOROLOGY

1. Apparatus and methods

79:6072 Jones, W. L. et al., 1979. Sensat scatterometer: results

of the Gulf of Alaska workshop. Science, 204(4400): 1413-1415.

The ability of this microwave radar system to make global, all-weather measurements of surface vector winds to an accuracy of ±2 m sec- t and +_20* over a path 1000 km wide is tested. Agreement with surface truth data is found during rain-free conditions. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. 23665, U.S.A. (rio)

79:6073 Rodgers, Edward, R. C. Gentry, William Shenk and

Vincent Oliver, 1979. The benefits of using short- interval satellite images to derive winds for tropical cyclones. Mon. Weath. Rev., 107(5): 575-584.

A joint investigation of North Atlantic hurricanes 1975-1977 by NOAA's National Environmental Satellite Service and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center was initiated to determine the best resolution and frequency of satellite images for deriving winds to study and forecast tropical cyclones. It was found that short-interval (7.5 min or less), full-resolution images (<£2 kin) afforded many wind data not available otherwise between 200 and II00 km from cyclone centers. Incorporation of such data into dynamical- numerical models should improve hurricane warning services. Figures include hurricane imagery. NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Md. 20771, U.S.A. (izs)

79:6074 Stout, J. E., D. W. Martin and D. N. Sikdar, 1979.

Estimating GATE rainfall with geosynchronous satellite images. Mon. Weath. Rev., 107(5)" 585-598.

An equation relates volumetric rainfall in m s sec- ~ tO the cumulonimbus cloud area estimated from either visible or infrared satellite imagery. Constants in the equation are presented for the tropical North Athlntic Ocean and results are compared with measurements by ship radar. The accuracy of this method, its main weakness and comparisons with other techniques are discussed. Space Engineering and Engineering Center, Madison, Wis. 53706, U.S.A. (rio)

79:6075 Wilkerson, J. C. et al., 1979. Surface observations for

the evaluation of geophysical measurements from Seasat. Science, 204(4400): 1408-1410.

Meteorological surface observations obtained from buoys, ships and weather satellites are evaluated as reference data for the assessment of Seasat measurements. Emphasis is placed on the quality of surface data for synoptic scale winds. National Environmental Satellite Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Camp Springs, Md. 20023, U.S.A. (rio)

2. Air-sea interface and interactions

79:6076 Guedalia, Daniel, Aim~ Druilhet and Jacques

Fontan, 1978. Evolution de la structure de la couche limite planetaire sur des sites oceaniques et continentaux. [Evolution of the planetary boundary layer at oceanic and continental sites.] Boundary-layer Met., 14(4): 457-469.

The annual cycles of mixing layer evolution, temperature inversion levels and vertical exchanges are differentiated for Northern Hemisphere oceanic and continental stations. Over the ocean, minimum mixing layer evolution and maximum frequency of elevated inversion layers occur during summer: vertical exchange is more important during winter. Laboratoire de Physique des A~rosols et Echanges AtmosphSriques, CPA, Universit~ Paul Sabaticr 31077 Toulouse Codex, France. (izs)

79:6077 Makin, V. K., 1979. Wind field above waves. (In Rus-

sian.) Okeanologiia, 19(2): 206-212.

A numerical model simulating the dynamic regime of an air flow above harmonic waves is presented and the method of its numerical realization is described. Data are given on the distribution of wind, tangential wind stress, kinetic energy of turbulence, and pressure.

79:6078 Peng, T.-H., W. S. Broecker, G. G. Mathieu,

Y.-H. Li and A. E. Bainbridge, 1979. Radon evasion rates in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as