Turbulence characteristics of downslope flows in mountainous terrain
Dr. Ivana Stiperski,
Institute of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences
University of Innsbruck
Orography presents a significant forcing to the atmosphere above and around it
spanning a wide range of scales, from large scale to turbulence. In mountainous
terrain turbulence is by definition considered to be heterogeneous inhibiting efforts of
developing a unified similarity theory for complex terrain. This heterogeneity of
turbulence stems from local surface characteristics such as changes in slope angle and
vegetation cover and inhomogeneity in the thermal forcing as well as different type of
dynamic forcing: under low synoptic forcing thermally driven flows develop in
mountain valleys and on the slopes whereas under strong synoptic forcing downslope
windstorm-type flows can develop.
In this contribution we will present results from long-term turbulence measurements
from the Inn Valley, Austria, as part of i-Box project, together with short-term
turbulence measurements during the Metcrax II field campaign in Winslow Meteor
Crater in Arizona. We will examine turbulence characteristics in mountainous terrain
of different slope angle and surface characteristics and will focus on the difference
between the turbulence generated by katabatic winds and downslope windstorms and
heterogeneity induced by these flows.
Seminar will be webcast at: http://www.fin.ucar.edu/it/mms/fl2-live.htm
Tuesday, 16 August 2016, 3:30 PM
Refreshments 3:15 PM
NCAR-Foothills Laboratory
3450 Mitchell Lane
Bldg 2 Small Seminar Room (Rm1001)
