An observational framework to diagnose imprints of land-atmosphere interactions on climate

Land-atmosphere interactions strongly impact the exchange of heat and water vapor between the land and the atmosphere and play an important role for regional climates. How heat and water vapor exchange affect the near-surface climate is linked to the diurnal growth and decline of the atmospheric boundary layer – the atmospheric layer, which is directly influenced by the land surface. The objective of the project is to develop and validate an observational framework to diagnose imprints of land-atmosphere interactions on climate. For this purpose, ceilometer observations, radiosonde soundings, and surface fluxes will be combined to analyse land-atmosphere interactions at a desert grassland site in Arizona. The results of this research will complement field observations in a mixed-wood forest in New Brunswick. The intern will learn how to plan and execute atmospheric observation campaigns and how the observations can be used to improve current understanding of regional climate change.

Faculty Supervisor:

Manuel Helbig

Student:

Partner:

Northern Arizona University

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology; Water; Other

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: