Summary

For the last fifty years it has often been argued that studies of the lower atmosphere should concentrate on understanding the most elementary situations; we are to attack the more difficult problems later. Following this line, many projects continue to be set in unforested places with little topographic variation. With the rapid increase in quality and quantity of remote sensing imagery, many are proposing techniques to reduce surface boundary conditions to counting tiles in the appropriate mosaic. How will these approaches be tested? In this project, we turn deliberately to study this intermediate ground. We believe that many of the problems associated with the lack of horizontal homogeneity can be offset by the appearance of regular local winds, which make it easier to form useful composites.

This investigation of the Hudson Valley, New York intends to examine how local topography and land use patterns affect boundary layer dynamics under predominantly fair-weather conditions.

We believe that valley-induced circulations induce a diurnal regularity to boundary layer structure that allows patterns to be detected efficiently. That is, we have a better idea when to look and what to look for. Thus, while our primary focus is on the description of flows in the Hudson Valley, results of more general interest to boundary layer meteorology are likely to emerge from this work.