Remote measurements and coastal atmospheric refraction

Space and ground-based remotely sensed marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) and ocean surface conditions are compared with in situ measured refractive conditions. Near-surface refractive conditions are influenced by near-surface turbulence (wind speeds), surface temperature (SST), and overlying air dryness which can be detected in operational and research satellite data. Humidity and temperature gradients at the top of the boundary layer can be related to remotely sensed cloud properties and to infrared Ground-Based High Resolution Interferometer Sounder (GB-HIS) measured profiles. Studies were performed in coastal (Norwegian, California) and SST front regions. In situ and ground-based remote data were from ship mounted systems. Other remote data were from operational (NOAA) and research (ERS-1) satellite borne sensors. In examined cases, remotely sensed information yields reasonable assessments of refractive conditions immediately above the surface but not of the structure at the top of the boundary layer. Remote data describe horizontal/temporal variations, important in the coastal and SST front regions, but not described by point measured in situ data