INFLUENCE OF BACKGROUND FLOW ON EVOLUTION OF SARONIC GULF SEA-BREEZE

Results from an experimental campaign at the coastline of the Saronic Gulf during the summer of 1992 are presented. The frontal intensity an d the rotation of the wind hodograph at the shoreline during sea-breez e cases are examined under different background how conditions. The fr ontal intensity classification is based on the vertical velocities ind uced, as measured by a high resolution acoustic sounder. Three represe ntative cases are presented. Conclusions are based on the analysis of all observed sea-breeze flows. Background off-shore or shore-parallel hows are more probable to create a strong or weak front, respectively. The development of frontal characteristics under background on-shore Bow is attributed to off-shore land features. The wind hodograph rotat ion is shown to be associated to the initial direction of the sea bree ze, which is determined by the background dow direction: When the back ground how possesses a westerly component the hodograph shows anticloc kwise rotation, while an easterly background component causes the wind vector rotation to be clockwise.