On the Variability of In Situ Surface Layer Refractivity Measurements

Direct measurements of profiles atmospheric properties near the ocean surface and within marine layer often contain a large degree variability. The variability observed can be explained by numerous technical natural reasons such as temporal over time span profile is measured (unsteadiness in mean), spatial variations (inhomogeneity), turbulent fluctuations, measurement uncertainty. In this study, we explored vertical distributions refractive index with tethered-balloon-based profiling system (MAPS). MAPS profiled atmosphere from approximately 0.5 to 50 m, instantaneous (order 1 s) performed at each altitude. To explore whether scatter could largely (inertial-scale) simulated fluctuations spectral-based fluctuation (TRIF) model. TRIF was optimized based on determine length scale turbulence. scales computed optimization were reasonable other estimates literature under similar conditions. However, finer-scale trends stability did not match expectations, thus estimated may considered more an order-of-magnitude estimate rather than exact scale. ability data using turbulence model choice suggests that dominated physical processes being primarily driven