Analysis of thermal inversions in the Khareef Salalah region in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

[1] Meteorology and topography (shape of the land) are two of the most important environmental factors that control the movement of pollutants in the atmosphere. A wellknown example of the importance of topography and meteorology is the so-called monsoon season in Salalah (Khareef Salalah) in the Sultanate of Oman. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the elevated stable layer, particularly during monsoon season in Salalah. The study addresses the statistical analysis of inversion parameters. It will also improve our common understanding of the monsoon and how it is dominated by inversions. In this work, the monthly characteristics of inversions are investigated using the daily radiosonde measurements to a height of 2 km over a period of 1 year. Both surface-based and elevated inversions are investigated. Based on the analysis of data recovered from weather balloons, the study shows a strong monthly change in inversion frequency, depth, and strength. Overall, inversions are less common in summer (55.4% in May) than in winter (82.8% in January). The surface-based inversion frequency is at a minimum in summer and at a maximum in winter. The surface-based inversions reach a maximum depth in winter and are almost absent during summer. An opposite trend in elevated inversion is seen. Most summer inversions are elevated, and a maximum in their frequencies is found during May to September. The elevated inversions are generally deeper and stronger than the surface-based inversions. The correlation coefficient for the relationships between the inversion depth and temperature difference across the inversion was determined for both the surface-based and elevated inversions. It was 0.82 for the surface-based inversion, whereas it was appreciably lower (0.39) for the elevated inversion. Moreover, the correlation coefficient between the log inversion depth and the log temperature difference across the elevated inversion was high (i.e., 0.75).

Source Characterization of Atmospheric Heavy Metals in Industrial/Residential Areas: A Case Study in Oman

“…Furthermore, weather conditions for the five monthly sampling periods were characterized by strong thermal inversion phenomena. 26 Thus, if the level of pollution from SIE were significant, then residential areas to the northeast of SIE would experience a significant impact from such air emissions. This demonstrates that the emissions from SIE would be blown over the residential area to the northeast when the wind comes from the southwest.…”

The Layered Structure of the Winter Atmospheric Boundary Layer in the Interior of Alaska

“…In these studies the occurrence of EI-AC is linked to air pollution episodes as described by Morgan and Bornstein (1977), Katsoulis (1988a,b), Prezerakos (1998), and Kallos et al (1993) FIG. and in connection with the monsoon season (e.g., in the Gulf of Oman; Abdul-Wahab 2003) and air pollution in the same area (Abdul-Wahab et al 2005). Digital elevation model of the interior of Alaska.…”

Variability in surface inversion characteristics over India in winter during the recent decades

“…(e.g., Bradley et al 1993;Abdul-Wahab 2003;Abdul-Wahab et al 2004;Kassomenos and Koletsis 2005). But they have also mentioned that it is difficult to identify a specific reason due to strong interaction between many potential factors.…”