A Comparison of the Daily Cycle of Lower-Tropospheric Winds Over the Open Ocean and Those Above a Small Island

The Nauru99 Intensive Operational Period (IOP) took place from June 16, 1999, (Day 167) to July 15, 1999, (Day 196) on and near the Republic of Nauru (0.5° S, 166.9° E). Nauru is a small (4 km by 6 km) island surrounded by a reef that is exposed at low tide (Figure 1). A narrow coastal belt encircles a sparsely vegetated 30 to 60 m high plateau comprised of coral pinnacles and phosphate-bearing rock.