METCRAX II

METCRAX II was the second experiment studying the atmospheric boundary layer of the Arizona Meteor Crater.

METCRAX II investigated downslope-windstorm-type flows that develop when thermally-driven drainage flows cascade over the rim of the Arizona Meteorite Crater on clear, undisturbed nights. These flows are ubiquitous in mountains throughout the world, but occur on a regular basis at this location and on scale that is uniquely amenable to observation with surface-based instrumentation. The goals of the project were to determine the characteristic atmospheric structure and evolution associated with these flows and the controlling parameters in the katabatic winds that drive them. The field observations will also be used to develop and validate LES models that can extend the findings to basins and ridges of different sizes and shapes.

For information about the first METCRAX experiment, see the METCRAX Project Page.

Measurement Sites

NCAR provided the following instrumentation for METCRAXII.

[1] latitude and longitude values were computed from 24 hour means of the values on Oct 10 from the GPS units on the data acquisition DSMs. 

The tower, radiation and soil instrumentation were provided by the Integrated Surface Flux System (ISFS) at EOL. See ISFS at METCRAXII for more information.

The LIDAR, GAUS soundings, ceilometer, sky camera, SODAR/RASS and 449 wind profiler were provided by the Atmospheric Profiling Group (APG) at EOL. See ISS at METCRAX-II for more information.