Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Small Scale Mountain Ranges on a Baroclinc Wave.

• Main Author: Walker,Jeffrey Peter
• Other Authors: NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1982
• Subjects: Meteorology; *WEATHER FORECASTING; *OROGRAPHY; ALASKA; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS; METEOROLOGICAL DATA; MOUNTAINS; MATHEMATICAL PREDICTION; AIR MASS ANALYSIS; Baroclinic flow; Lee cyclogenesis; Greenland; alaska range; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA125301; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA125301

A 6-level hemispheric primitive equation model was numerically integrated to examine the influence of various mountain ranges on a baroclinic flow. The objective was to simulate the apparent topographically-induced cyclogenesis that occurs over south central Alaska and isolate the mechanisms involved. It was found that the model simulates some of the characteristics of cyclogenesis in the lee of the Rockies, Alps, and Greenland. The topography appeared to cause a more local development in the lee at the expense of development over the whole domain of integration. The presence of a gap in the mountains was responsible for generating an eddy in th flow that moved eastward. This eddy became the primary development in cases with horseshoe-shaped mountains that had a maximum elevation of 3000 m. The overall results suggest that a weak form of development in the lee of the Alaska Range is possible and that the resulting surface development would be weak but more clearly defined at the 850 mb level. (Author)