Surface meteorological parameters of identified ship tracks

• Main Author: Pettigrew, James Charles
• Other Authors: Durkee, Philip A.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2013
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/26802

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === Ships producing tracks in the atmosphere are identified and their surface meteorological parameters are specified. Thirteen case studies are presented with satellite imagery, synoptic discussion and surface meteorological parameters. A composite "environment" is derived from reported surface meteorological parameters and is compared with climatological conditions of the region, showing that significant departures from normal conditions do not occur. No clear generation mechanism is suggested in a relationship between relative wind and separation distance of ship and ship track, indicating a complex relationship of generation mechanisms. Although a limited study, a firm foundation is now in place for further research into ship track genesis.