TRANSFORMATION OF POLAR CONTINENTAL AIR TO POLAR MARITIME AIR*

Abstract

The changes in the content of heat and water vapor which characterize the transformation of continental-polar air as it moves out over the sea are considered. Computations indicate that these changes can be accounted for by the transfer processes operating at the sea surface. A solution is obtained for the surface air temperature at any phase of the transformation in terms of the initial surface air temperature, the initial lapse rate, the sea-surface temperature, and the distance the air has traveled over the sea. The solution is presented graphically for the use of the forecaster. Temperatures are computed for ninety-six cases and compared with the observed temperatures.