• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Thermal Structure of the Urban Boundary Layer during a Heat Wave Period

Undergraduate #276
Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Geosciences and Earth Sciences

Jeremy Sanchez - City College of New York and New York City College of Technology
Co-Author(s): Prathap Ramamurthy, Dept. Mech. Eng., City College of New York/NOAA-CREST Center, New York, NY



This research focused on understanding the impact of heatwaves on the urban boundary layer. Few studies have focused on the thermal structure and evolution of urban boundary layer and even fewer on the impacts of heatwaves. The study used microwave profilers to sense the boundary layer over New York City during July 2016. A period, which witnessed 3 heatwave episodes and heatwave warnings were issued on 16 days. Our analysis shows that the boundary layer, particularly the lower 2 km was highly energized during the heatwave event with the average virtual potential temperature at least 7-10 K higher throughout the boundary layer. Subsidence of warm air from the atmosphere aloft was captured by the profiler. The lower surface layer remained warm for extended periods of time and a heat dome was visible in the lower 250 m. We also found the effects of thermal internal boundary layers, wherein a low level inversion set in. This was mainly a result of local surface characteristics. The strength of this inversion grew during the heatwave episode. Finally, the nocturnal boundary layer during the heatwave episode remained mostly unstable. Overall the analysis has shown that urban areas can experience elevated temperatures during heatwaves episodes due to complex interactions between the surface and the atmosphere.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This project is supported by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Grants #1560050, under the direction of Dr. Reginald A. Blake, Dr. Janet Liou-Mark, and Laura Yuen-Lau and NOAA CREST CURE program under the direct of Dr. Reza Khanvilbardi and Dr. Shakila Merchant. The authors are solely responsible for the content of this article, and it does not necessarily represent the views of the NSF or of NOAA-CREST.

Faculty Advisor: Prathap Ramamurthy, pramamurthy@ccny.cuny.edu

Role: My faculty mentor and I collaborated on the project.

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science