Alpine gravity waves: Lessons from MAP regarding mountain wave generation and breaking

Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society

Volumn 133, Issue 625 B, 2007, Pages 917-936

  Smith, Ronald B ^a   Doyle, James D ^b   Jiang, Qingfang ^c   Smith, Samantha A ^d  

^a YALE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY   (United States)

^c UCAR   (United States)

^d MET OFFICE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Internal gravity waves; Mesoscale Alpine Programme; Numerical modelling

Indexed keywords

LATENT HEAT RELEASE; MESOSCALE ALPINE PROGRAMME; MOUNTAIN WAVE GENERATION; UPSTREAM BLOCKING; WAVE ABSORPTION;

CLIMATOLOGY; GEOMORPHOLOGY; LANDFORMS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; TROPOSPHERE;

GRAVITY WAVES;

ALPINE ENVIRONMENT; BOUNDARY LAYER; GRAVITY WAVE; MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY; NUMERICAL MODEL; OROGRAPHY; WAVE BREAKING; WAVE GENERATION; WIND SHEAR;

EID: 34447649030     PISSN: 00359009     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/qj.103     Document Type: Article

References (96)

1. Aebischer U, Schär C. 1998. Low-level potential vorticity and cyclogenesis to the lee of the Alps. J. Atmos. Sci. 55: 186-207.
2. Afanasyev YD, Peltier WR. 2001. Numerical simulations of internal gravity wave breaking in the middle atmosphere: The influence of dispersion and three-dimensionalization. J. Atmos. Sci. 58: 132-153.
3. Asencio N, Stein J, Chong M, Gheusi F. 2003. Analysis and simulation of local and regional conditions for the rainfall over the Lago Maggiore Target Area during MAP IOP2b. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 565-586.
4. Baines PG. 1995. Topographic effects in stratified flows. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.
5. Bessemoulin P, Bougeault P, Genoves A, Clar AJ, Puech D. 1993. Mountain pressure drag during PYREX. Beitr. Phys. Atmos. 66: 305-325.
6. Blumen W. (ed.) 1990. Atmospheric processes over complex terrain. Meteorol. Monograph 45: American Meteorol. Society: Boston, Mass.
7. Bolliger M, Binder P, Rossa A. 2003. Tracking cloud patterns by METEOSAT rapid scan imagery in complex terrain. Meteorol. Zeitschrift 12: 73-80.
8. Booker JR, Bretherton FP. 1967. The critical layer for internal gravity waves in a shear flow. J. Fluid Mech. 27: 513-539.
9. Bougeault P, Benech B, Bessemoulin P, Carissimo B, Jansa Clar A, Pelon J, Petitdidier M, Richard E. 1997. PYREX: A summary of findings. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 78: 637-650.
10. Bougeault P, Binder P, Buzzi A, Dirks R, Houze Jr RA, Kuettner J, Smith RB, Steinacker R, Volkert H. 2001. The MAP special observing period. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 82: 433-462.
11. Brown AR. 2004. Resolution dependence of orographic torques. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 130: 3029-3046.
12. Caccia J-L, Aubagnac J-P, Bethenod G, Bourdier C, Bruzzese E, Campistron B, Candusso J-P, Cherel G, Claeyman J-P, Conrad J-L, Cordesses R, Currier P, Derrien S, Despaux G. 2001. The French ST-radar network during MAP: Observational and scientific aspects. Meteorol. Zeitschrift 10: 469-478.
13. Carissimo BC, Pierrehumbert RT, Pham HL. 1988. An estimate of mountain drag during ALPEX for comparison with numerical models. J. Atmos. Sci. 45: 1949-1960.
14. Chen C, Durran DR, Hakim GJ. 2005. Mountain-wave momentum flux in an evolving synoptic-scale flow. J. Atmos. Sci. 62: 3213-3231.
15. Clark TL, Miller MJ. 1991. Pressure drag and momentum fluxed due to the Alps II: Representation in large-scale atmospheric models. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 117: 527-552.
16. Davies HC, Phillips PD. 1985. Mountain drag along the Gotthard section during ALPEX. J. Atmos. Sci. 42: 2093-2109.
17. Dörnbrack A, Birner T, Fix A, Flentje H, Meister A, Schmid H, Browell E, Mahoney M. 2002. Evidence for inertia-gravity waves forming polar stratospheric clouds over Scandinavia. J. Geophys. Res. 107(8287): doi: 10.1029/2001JD000452.
18. Doyle JD, Durran DR. 2002. The dynamics of mountain-wave-induced rotors. J. Atmos. Sci. 59: 186-201.
19. Doyle JD, Jiang Q. 2006. Observations and numerical simulations of mountain waves in the presence of directional wind shear. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 132: 1877-1905.
20. Doyle JD, Smith RB. 2003. Mountain waves over the Hohe Tauern. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 799-823.
21. Doyle JD, Durran DR, Chen C, Colle BA, Georgelin M, Grubisic V, Hsu WR, Huang CY, Landau D, Lin YL, Poulos GS, Sun WY, Weber DB, Wurtele MG, Xue M. 2000. An intercomparison of model-predicted wave breaking for the 11 January 1972 Boulder windstorm. Mon. Weather Rev. 128: 901-914.
22. Doyle JD, Volkert H, Dörnbrack A, Hoinka K, Hogan TF. 2002. Aircraft measurements and numerical simulations of mountain waves over the central Alps: A pre-MAP test case. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 128: 2175-2184.
23. Doyle JD, Shapiro MA, Jiang Q, Bartells D. 2005. Large-amplitude mountain wave breaking over Greenland. J. Atmos. Sci. 62: 3106-3126.
24. Drobinski P, Steinacker R, Richer H, Baumann-Stanzer K, Beffrey G, Benech B, Berger H, Chimani B, Dabas A, Dorninger M, Dürr B, Flamant C, Frioud E, Furger M, Gröhn I, Gubser S, Gutermann T, Häberli C, Häller-Scharnhorst E, Jaubert G, Lothon M, Mitev B, Pechinger U, Piringer M, Ratheiser M, Ruffieux D, Seiz G, Spatzierer M, Tschannett S, Vogt S, Werner R, Zängl G. 2007. Föhn in the Rhine Valley during MAP: A review of its multiscale dynamics in complex valley geometry. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 133: 897-916.
25. Durran DR. 1986. Another look at downslope windstorms. Part I: The development of analogs to supercritical flow in an infinitely deep, continuously stratified fluid. J. Atmos Sci. 43: 2527-2543.
26. Epifanio CC, Durran DR. 2001. Three-dimensional effects in high-drag-state flows over long ridges. J. Atmos. Sci. 58: 1051-1065.
27. Epifanio CC, Rotunno R. 2005. The dynamics of orographic wake formation in flows with upstream blocking. J. Atmos. Sci. 62: 3127-3150.
28. Flamant C, Richard E, Schär C, Rotunno R, Nance L, Sprenger M, Benoit R. 2004. The wake south of the Alps: Dynamics and structure of the lee-side flow and secondary potential vorticity banners. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 130: 1275-1303.
29. Fritts DC, Alexander MJ. 2003. Gravity wave dynamics and effects in the middle atmosphere. Rev. Geophys. 41(1): 1003, doi:10.1029/ 2001RG000106.
30. Georgis J-F, Roux F, Chong M, Pradier S. 2003. Triple-Doppler radar analysis of the heavy rain event observed in the Lago Maggiore region during MAP IOP 2b. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 495-522.
31. Gohm A, Mayr GJ. 2004. Hydraulic aspects of föhn winds in an Alpine valley. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 130: 449-480.
32. Grubišić V. 2004. Bora-driven potential vorticity banners over the Adriatic. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 130: 2571-2603.
33. Grubišić V, Lewis JM. 2004. Sierra Wave Project revisited 50 years later. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 85: 1127-1142.
34. Hafner TA, Smith RB. 1985. Pressure drag on the European Alps in relation to synoptic events. J. Atmos. Sci. 42: 562-575.
35. Hertenstein RF, Kuettner J. 2005. Rotor types associated with steep lee topography: Influence of the wind profile. Tellus A 57: 117-135.
36. Hodur RM. 1997. The Naval Research Laboratory's Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). Mon. Weather Rev. 125: 1414-1430.
37. Hoinka KP. 1985. Observation of the airflow over the Alps during a föhn event. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 111: 199-224.
38. Jaubert G, Stein J. 2003. Multiscale and unsteady aspects of a deep föhn event during MAP. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 755-776.
39. Jiang Q, Doyle JD. 2004. Gravity wave breaking over the central Alps: Role of complex terrain. J. Atmos. Sci. 61: 2249-2266.
40. Jiang Q, Doyle JD. 2005. Wave breaking induced surface wakes and jets observed during a bora event. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32(17): L17807.
41. Jiang Q, Smith RB. 2000. V-waves, bow shocks, and wakes in supercritical hydrostatic flow. J. Fluid Mech. 406: 27-53.
42. Jiang Q, Smith RB. 2001a. Ideal shocks in 2-layer flow. Part I: Under a rigid lid. Tellus A, 53A: 129-145.
43. Jiang Q, Smith RB. 2001b. Ideal shocks in 2-layer flow. Part II: Under a passive layer. Tellus A, 53A: 146-167.
44. Jiang Q, Smith RB. 2003. Gravity wave breaking in two-layer hydrostatic flow. J. Atmos. Sci. 60: 1159-1172.
45. Jiang JH, Wu DL, Eckermann SD. 2002. Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) MLS observation of mountain waves over the Andes. J. Geophys. Res. 107: 10.1029/2002JD002091.
46. Jiang Q, Smith RB, Doyle JD. 2003. The nature of the mistral: Observations and modelling of two MAP events. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 857-875.
47. Jiang Q, Doyle JD, Smith RB. 2005. Blocking, descent and gravity waves: Observations and modeling of a MAP northerly föhn event. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 131: 675-701.
48. Jiang Q, Doyle JD, Smith RB. 2006. Interaction between trapped waves and boundary layers. J. Atmos. Sci. 63: 617-633.
49. Klemp JB, Skamarock WC, Fuhrer O. 2003. Numerical consistency of metric terms in terrain-following coordinates. Mon. Weather Rev. 131: 1229-1239.
50. Kim Y-J, Doyle JD. 2005. Extension of an orographic drag parameterization scheme to incorporate orographic anisotropy and flow blocking. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 131: 1893-1921.
51. Kim Y-J, Eckermann SD, Chun H-Y. 2003. An overview of the past, present and future of gravity-wave drag parameterization for numerical climate and weather prediction models. Atmos-Ocean 41: 65-98.
52. Leutbecher M, Volkert H. 2000. The propagation of mountain waves into the stratosphere: Quantitative evaluation of three-dimensional simulations. J. Atmos. Sci. 57: 3090-3108.
53. Lin Y-L, Wang T-A. 1996. Flow regimes and transient dynamics of two-dimensional stratified flow over an isolated mountain ridge. J. Atmos. Sci. 53: 139-158.
54. Lothon M, Druilhet A, Benech B, Campistron B, Bernard S, Said F. 2003. Experimental study of five föhn events during the Mesoscale Alpine Programme: From synoptic scale to turbulence. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 2171-2193.
55. Lott F, Miller MJ. 1997. A new subgrid-scale orographic drag parametrization: Its formulation and testing. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 123: 101-127.
56. Lott F, Teitelbaum H. 1993. Linear unsteady mountain waves. Tellus 45A: 201-220.
57. Mayr GH, Armi L, Gohm A, Zängl G, Durran DR, Flamant C, Gaberšek S, Mobbs S, Ross A, Weissmann M. 2007. Gap flows: Results from the Mesoscale Alpine Programme. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 133: 881-896.
58. Medina S, Houze RA. 2003. Air motions and precipitation growth in Alpine storms. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc, 129: 345-371.
59. Ólafsson H, Bougeault P. 1997. The effect of rotation and surface friction on orographic drag. J. Atmos. Sci. 54: 193-210.
60. Pan FF, Smith RB. 1999. Gap winds and wakes: SAR observations and numerical simulations. J. Atmos. Sci. 56: 905-923.
61. Peng S, Thompson WT. 2003. Some aspects of the effect of surface friction on flows over mountains. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 2527-2557.
62. Preusse P, Dörnbrack A, Eckermann SD, Riese M, Schaeler B, Bacmeister JT, Broutman D, Grossmann KU. 2002. Space-based measurements of stratospheric mountain waves by CRISTA. Part 1: Sensivity, analysis method, and a case study. J. Geophys. Res. 107: 8178, doi: 10.1029/2001JD000699.
63. Queney P. 1947. 'Theory of perturbations in stratified currents with applications to airflow over mountain barriers'. Misc. Report No. 23, Dept. of Meteorology, Univ. of Chicago.
64. Richard E, Mascart P, Nickerson EC. 1989. The role of surface friction in downslope windstorms. J. Appl. Meteorol. 28: 241-251.
65. Rontu L. 2006. A study on parametrization of orography-related momentum fluxes in a synoptic-scale NWP model. Tellus A 58: 69-81.
66. Rotunno R, Ferretti R. 2003. Orographic effects on rainfall in MAP cases IOP2b and IOP8. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 373-390.
67. Rotunno R, Houze RA. 2007. Lessons on orographic precipitation from MAP. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 133: 811-830.
68. Satomura T, Sato K. 1999. Secondary generation of gravity waves associated with the breaking of mountain waves. J. Atmos. Sci. 56: 3847-3858.
69. Saussure HB de. 1796. Voyages dans les Alpes. 6: 362, 7: 59. Fauche-Borel: Neuchatel.
70. Schär C, Smith RB. 1993. Shallow-water flow past isolated topography. 1: Vorticity production and wake formation. J. Atmos. Sci. 50: 1373-1400.
71. Schär C, Leuenberger D, Fuhrer O, Lüthi D, Girard C. 2002. A new terrain-following vertical coordinate formulation for atmospheric prediction models. Mon. Weather Rev. 130: 2459-2480.
72. Schär C, Sprenger M, Luthi D, Jiang QF, Smith RB, Benoit R. 2003. Structure and dynamics of an Alpine potential-vorticity banner. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 825-855.
73. Schneidereit M, Schär C. 2000. Idealised numerical studies of Alpine flow regimes and southside precipitation events. Meteorol. Atmos. Phys. 72: 233-250.
74. Scorer RS. 1949. Theory of waves in the lee of mountains. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 75: 41-56.
75. Shen B-W, Lin Y-L. 1999. Effects of critical levels on two-dimensional back-sheared flow over an isolated mountain ridge on an f-plane. J. Atmos. Sci. 56: 3286-3302.
76. Shutts GJ. 2001. A linear model of back-sheared flow over an isolated hill in the presence of rotation. J. Atmos. Sci. 58: 3293-3311.
77. Shutts GJ. 2003. Inertia-gravity wave and neutral Eady wave trains forced by directionally sheared flow over isolated hills. J. Atmos. Sci. 60: 593-606.
78. Smith RB. 1979. The influence of mountains on the atmosphere. Adv. Geophys. 21: 87-230.
79. Smith RB. 1985. On severe downslope winds. J. Atmos. Sci. 42(23): 2597-2603.
80. Smith RB. 1987. Aerial observations of the Yugoslavian Bora. J. Atmos. Sci. 44: 269-297.
81. Smith RB. 1989a. Hydrostatic flow over mountains. Adv. Geophys. 31: 1-41.
82. Smith RB. 1989b. Mountain-induced stagnation points in hydrostatic flow. Tellus 41A: 270-274.
83. Smith RB. 2007. Interacting mountain waves and boundary layers. J. Atmos. Sci. 64: 594-607.
84. Smith RB, Skubis S, Doyle JD, Broad A, Volkert H. 2002. Mountain waves over Mont Blanc: Influence of a stagnant boundary layer. J. Atmos. Sci. 59: 2073-2092.
85. Smith RB, Jiang QF, Fearon MG, Tabary P, Dorninger M, Doyle JD, Benoit R. 2003. Orographic precipitation and air mass transformation: An Alpine example. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 433-454.
86. Smith RB, Jiang Q, Doyle JD. 2006a. A theory of gravity wave absorption by boundary layers. J. Atmos. Sci. 63: 774-781.
87. Smith SA. 2004. Observations and simulations of the 8 November 1999 MAP mountain wave case. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 130: 1305-1326.
88. Smith SA, Broad AS. 2003. Horizontal and temporal variability of mountain waves over Mont Blanc. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 2195-2216.
89. Smith SA, Doyle JD, Brown AR, Webster S. 2006b. Sensitivity of resolved mountain drag to model resolution for MAP case-studies. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 132: 1467-1487.
90. Vadas SL, Fritts DC, Alexander MJ. 2003. Mechanism for the generation of secondary waves in wave breaking regions. J. Atmos. Sci. 60: 194-214.
91. Volkert H, Keil C, Kiemle C, Poberaj G, Chaboureau J-P, Richard E. 2003. Gravity waves over the eastern Alps: A synopsis of the 25 October 1999 event (IOP10) combining in situ and remote-sensing measurements with a high-resolution simulation. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 777-797.
92. Volkert H, Gutermann T. 2007. Inter-domain cooperation for mesoscale atmospheric laboratories: The Mesoscale Alpine Programme as a rich study case. Q.J.R. Meteorol. Soc. 133: 949-967.
93. Vosper SB, Sheridan PF, Brown AR. 2006. Flow separation and rotor formation beneath two-dimensional trapped lee waves. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 132: 2415-2438.
94. Webster S, Brown AR, Cameron DR, Jones CP. 2003. Improvements to the representation of orography in the Met Office Unified Model. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 129: 1989-2010.
95. Wurtele MG, Sharman RD, Datta A. 1996. Atmospheric lee waves. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 28: 429-476.
96. Zängl G. 2002. An improved method for computing horizontal diffusion in a sigma-coordinate model and its application to simulations over mountainous topography. Mon. Weather Rev. 130: 1423-1432.