01-23-2017, 07:28 PM
“Is the prevailing wind at Hilo out of the SSW due to the nighttime land breeze? (cool air coming down the mountain)”
Yes, it is.
Check out (17)-(22)-(40) and Figures 2 and 3 lower right;
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.10...16888/full
This downsloping or katabatic flow meets the trades head on, this plus orographic lifting aloft creates a convergence zone (rising air) and is responsible for our nocturnal precipitation maximum. The stronger the trades the more inland this higher rate of precipitation is. And vice versa if the downslope flow is strong this convergence zone is offshore-giving us a clear night.
This is more than you ever really wanted to know but the HaRP study is interesting;
http://tinyurl.com/hvabzr5
Yes, it is.
Check out (17)-(22)-(40) and Figures 2 and 3 lower right;
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.10...16888/full
This downsloping or katabatic flow meets the trades head on, this plus orographic lifting aloft creates a convergence zone (rising air) and is responsible for our nocturnal precipitation maximum. The stronger the trades the more inland this higher rate of precipitation is. And vice versa if the downslope flow is strong this convergence zone is offshore-giving us a clear night.
This is more than you ever really wanted to know but the HaRP study is interesting;
http://tinyurl.com/hvabzr5