Observation and numerical simulation of submesoscale motions within sea breeze over a tropical coastal site: A case study

•Observational analysis of submesoscale motions within sea breeze.•Simulation with WRF model using MYJ scheme.•FFT and wavelet techniques.•Comparison with SODAR observations.

Submesoscale motions observed using SODAR and fast response anemometer data during sea breeze hours are studied. SODAR data indicates the presence of waves with period ~ 30 min during the sea breeze hours. The observations are further verified by spectral analysis of sonic anemometer data using wavelet and FFT techniques. The analysis confirms that there are waves with periods of ~ 30 min present throughout the sea breeze hours with varying intensity. The observed waves are simulated using high-resolution WRF-ARW model using the MYJ planetary boundary layer scheme. The conditions of occurrence of such motions are briefly discussed. It is also found that these motions are caused by horizontal convective rolls within the sea breeze layer.