Characteristics of the Low-Level Temperature Inversion at the North Slope of Alaska on the Base of Microwave Remote Sensing Data

In Barrow, Alaska, during the winter period from January to April, 85% of radiosonde soundings detected the first type, and only about 10% elevated inversion (Busch et al. 1982) (not more than 25% according to Kahl [1990]). Usually radiation inversions are connected with a downward turbulent flux of sensible heat at the surface and thus have negative net radiation. All those inversions are the surface inversion. The analysis of radiation climate at Barrow (Maykut et al. 1973) shows that, between October and April, the radiation balance is dominated by the net longwave radiation resulting in its negative values during these months. Melting is the other surface type inversion typical for summer (20% to 30%). Lifted inversions are controlled by thermodynamic budgets of the layers of concern and by the surface energy fluxes.