Estimates of Mean Maximum Mixing Depths in the Contiguous United States

Mean radiosonde observations and normal maximum surface temperatures arc used with the assumption of a dry adiabatic lapse rate to estimate monthly mean maximum mixing depths (AIRID’S) for 45 stations in thc contiguous United States. From these data isopleth analyses of mean MMD’s are presented for cach month. Dcviation from the assumption of a dry adiabatic lapse rate is discussed. Sixteen of the available 45 radiosondc stations are selcctcd as gcnerally representative of the United States and are subjected to further considerations. These considcrations are (1) the relationship between monthly mean AIMD’s computcd from mean obscrvations and from individual observations, (2) comparison of monthly mean AIMD’s based on observations for 1 ycar with those bascd on observations for 10 ycars, and (3) the standard deviations of daily MAID’S. I.