Analysis of coastal lee waves along the coast of Texas observed in advanced very high resolution radiometer images

Abstract

We examine a group of wave-like cloud patterns that occurred along the coast of Texas on a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite advanced very high resolution radiometer IR images taken on January 22, 1999. These wave-like cloud patterns were interpreted to be signatures of a coastal lee wave packet on the basis of simultaneous field observations and theories developed by Zheng et al. [1998a]. The wave packet contains 13 waves with crest lines generally parallel to the coastline. The lengths of leading wave crest lines are longer than 500 km. The average wavelength is 9.5 km, ranging from 6.2 to 14.7 km. The width of the horizontal distribution band of the wave packet is as wide as 113 km. This case represents the most energetic coastal lee wave packet that has ever been reported. Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union.