An observational study of Lake Breeze over the Victoria basin in Uganda

The objective of this study was to explore lake and land breezes over the Lake Victoria basin based on 2 years (2019 to 2020). Hourly and daily data of wind speed and direction, precipitation, 2-meter air temperature over land, and Lake mix-layer depth obtained from Era 5 re-analysis were utilized. The method employed was based on the characteristics of the lake breeze with the elimination of the days with strong synoptic winds. According to the results, the main drivers for the breeze development at the meteorological stations were the thermal gradient between the lake and the surroundings and the low-level winds. The breezes mainly occur between 9:00 h and 15:00 h characterized by divergence over the lake and reduction in temperature and they move over land. The study calls for a look at the factors that may contribute to the formation of the breezes.