Acoustic Sounder Study of Sea Breeze in Southwest Monsoon Season

Abstract

Acoustic sounder echo patterns obtained at Visakhapatnam during periods of sea breeze in the month of July 1980 (monsoon month) are presented and discussed in the light of the prevailing weather conditions and surface meteorological data obtained from the antenna site. Sea breeze occurrence in July is occasional. unlike daily occurrence in summer, because of the dominant gradient flow from west to east due to the prevailing southwest monsoon. A large increase in the intensity and height of backscattered echoes was observed at the onset of sea breeze indicating the thermally inhomogeneous and turbulent nature of the air just behind the moving sea breeze front. The increase in the depth of the sea breeze as shown by the acoustic records was mirrored in hygrograrns.