"Low-level jets (LLJs) are relatively fast-moving streams of air that form in the lower troposphere and are a common phenomenon across the Great Plains. LLJs play an important role in moisture transport and development of nocturnal convection in the spring and summer. Alterations to surface moisture and energy fluxes can influence the planetary boundary layer (PBL) development and thus LLJs. One important anthropogenic process that has been shown to affect the surface energy budget is irrigation. In this study, we investigate the effects of irrigation on LLJ development across the Great Plains by incorporating a dynamic and realistic irrigation scheme into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model." -- Abstract.
Read
