On the Inversion and the Super-adiabatic Lapse-rate observed in the Free Air

Abstract

This paper deals with a statistical study of the inversion and super-adiabatic lapse-rate observed in the free air at Kasumigaura, Japan proper.
§1. The lower limit of the inversion is generally lower than 2.5KM in height. The inversion is about 4_??_6×10²m of depth, and the temperature difference between the top and base of the inversion is within 4°C usually. The super-adiabatic lapse-rate is often observed in the free air. The. lower limit of the layer baving the super-adiabatic lapse-rate is generally lower than 2 KM in height. Such a layer is generally smaller than 5×102m in depth, and the heighest adiabatic lapse-rate 1.5°C/100m.
§2. The relation of the air mass condition and inversion has been also investigated. The modified polar continental air in the colder half of the year is usually characterized by marked inversions due to subsidence of air. The polar maritime air is generally characterized by frontal inversions at the top, which occurred at a height lower than 2 KM. The tropical maritime air is often characterized by marked inversions so long as the southerly wind continues to blow strongly in the upper air and vanishes out if the wind becomes weak.
§3. In the Far East, the precipitation occurs in advance of the cold front and clears up in rear of the cold front in the colder half of the year. The modified polar continental air mass is in front of the front and the fresh polar air mass in rear of the front. The modified air mass is characterized by the inversion which makes the subsidence dome. The dome at times practically intersects the ground surface along the periphery in rear of the modified polar air in mass, so that the fresh polar continental air mass flows in aloft above the dome first. So that strong convicetion and turbulence would result in front of the front. Thus there is strong lapse-rate to produce rain in front of the front. This model (Fig. 5) is quite contrary to the usual scheme proposed by J. Bjerknes.
§4. The super-adiahatic lapse-rafe is often observed in the layer just below the base of the inversion, just above the top of the innersion or between two successive inversions.