Along-shore variations of offshore flow

[1] Using eddy correlation data collected by the LongEZ research aircraft, the adjustment of atmospheric flow downstream from a coastline is examined. Along-shore variation of the turbulence over the water is generated by the varying width of the upstream land strip between the sea and inland water. Over the coastal zone, the turbulence is strongest downstream from the widest part of land. The along-shore variation of the turbulence decreases with increasing sea fetch due to horizontal mixing. In other terms, the footprint of the flux farther offshore includes a larger width of upstream land. Beyond 5 km sea fetch, the along-shore variation becomes small.