Aerial explorations of the low‐level cross‐equatorial current over eastern Africa

Abstract

Abstract An instrumented light aircraft has been used to investigate the low‐level cross‐equatorial current over eastern Africa. Using Doppler radar wind‐finding equipment the core of the current has been located and explored on four separate days, and the main features of wind, temperature, cloud and moisture content distribution have been determined. Mean fields of horizontal and vertical shear have been derived, and patterns of divergence and vertical motion around the core of the current have been deduced.