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www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/11/3579/2011/
doi:10.5194/acpd-11-3579-2011
© Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Lake breezes in the southern Great Lakes region and their influence during BAQS-Met 2007
1Cloud Physics and Severe Weather Research Section, Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Abstract. Mesoscale observations from the BAQS-Met field experiment during the summer of 2007 were integrated and manually analyzed in order to identify and characterize lake breezes in the southern Great Lakes region of North America, and assess their potential impact on air quality. Lake breezes were found to occur on 90% of study days, often occurring in conditions previously thought to impede their development. They affected all parts of the study region, including southwestern Ontario and nearby portions of southeast Michigan and northern Ohio, occasionally penetrating inland from 100 km to over 200 km. Occurrence rates and penetration distances were found to be higher than previously reported in the literature. This more accurate depiction of observed lake breezes allows a better understanding of their influence on the production and transport of pollutants in this region.
The observational analyses were compared with output from subsequent runs of a high-resolution numerical weather prediction model. The model accurately predicted lake breeze occurrence in a variety of synoptic wind regimes, but selected cases showed substantial differences in the detailed timing and location of lake-breeze fronts, and with the initiation of deep moist convection. Knowledge of such strengths and weaknesses will assist with interpretation of results from air quality modelling driven by this meteorological model.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 3137 KB) Supplement (56 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 5 Comments) Final Revised Paper (ACP) Special Issue
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Sills, D. M. L., Brook, J. R., Levy, I., Makar, P. A., Zhang, J., and Taylor, P. A.: Lake breezes in the southern Great Lakes region and their influence during BAQS-Met 2007, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 11, 3579-3626, doi:10.5194/acpd-11-3579-2011, 2011. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
