The Vertical Profile of Wind at Lake Hazen, N.W.T.

Abstract

Reports a series of observations of tropospheric wind speeds measured by pilot balloon at Lake Hazen, north interior Ellesmere Island, 16 May-18 Aug, 1961. These data are compared with simultaneous observations at the coastal stations Alert and Eureka. Anomalously low mean wind speeds up to 7000 ft are analyzed. Two interacting contributory factors are identified: the influence of local relief and marked year-round thermal stability. This persistent inversion can only be dispelled on exceptional occasions when upper winds attain 25 mph in summer and 70 mph in winter.