lil.- EVIDENCE FROM HIGH YIELD DETONATIONS1.:
The Eniwetok Atmosphere,.MIKE Day*
The general ‘susceptibility of the ‘atmosphere ‘to convection is iluse
‘trated ‘by the reports of comulus and fowering cumulus ‘clouds at both Eniwetok
and Kwajalein, os well as by reports of ‘showers and lightning.
Some of the rising air was thoroughly mixed with the environment ‘in
‘the conditionally unstable layers just below 10.000. 19,000, and 29,000 feet.
In the lowest of these layers, this mixture maintained high humidity; a layer -of
clouds was observed near 10.000 feet, trapped below a relatively stable layer.
The clouds reported at this level show some of the effects of the low stability
(altocumulus characteristics) and some of the effects of being frapped at a level
(alfostratus characteristics).
One of the cloud types reported at Kwajalein indi-
cafed alfocumulus ‘spreading from the upper portion of cumulus clouds.
Similat mixing of the rising ait with the environment in the unstable
layer from 13,000 to 19.000 feet undoubtedly occurred.
There was no layer
immediately above; however, that was stable with respect to saturated air, sothat the mixture would be free to break through to higher levels instead of
spreading at this altitude.
~ Also. in the unstable faye: from 25000 to 29.000 feet
ais was most likely subject to mixing with the environment.
the rising
In the region from
22,000 to 29,000 feet, the ratio of wind shear -to stability showed a maximum
for the sounding.
This segion. similar to the one at 10,000 feet. was topped by a.
stable laye:.
This means that some of the tising ait mixed with the environ-
ment of the unstable layer and spread Icterally below the stable layer.
however.
Here,
the process did not lead to extensive cloudiness since the environment
wes quite dry and the mixture unsaturated,
Any fragments of the cumulus clouds
that broke away from primasy convection cells at this altitude-quickly evaporated.
The air rising from the su:foce in the convection cells which attained
great height would have reached an equilib:ium level near 40.000 to 42.000 feet
had it not been for environmental mixing as the rising sample passed through
the layers favorable to mixing,
was reduced somewhat.
Because of this mixing. the equilibrium level
The presence of crtrus and cirrostratus clouds at 35.000
to 36.000 feet in- the repo'ts from both Eniwetok and Kwajalein can be taken
* Exteact from an analysis made by LCDR Williom J. Kotsch.
JTF 132 Weather Cential during MIKE
COPIED/og
LANL Rc
GEERERYerINFORMATIONs
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