The Cyclic Behavior of Mountain Gravity Waves Generated by Flow over Topography

Ziliang Li, Changji Chen, Jinqing Liu

Department of Marine Meteorology, Physical Oceanography Laboratory, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2013.43051                

Abstract

The cyclic behavior of lee wave systems, generated by stratified flow over mountains is investigated by the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) model. The results show that, surface friction has a direct impact upon the number and timing of mountain gravity waves cycle generation. Cyclic generation of mountain lee waves and down-slope winds was found to be extremely sensitive to the magnitude of the surface drag coefficient, where mountain waves amplitude and intensity varies with the magnitude of the drag coefficient, and the interaction of mountain waves and boundary layer process determinates the wave characteristics. For the typical drag C_d = 10^–3, surface friction promotes the formation of the stationary mountain lee waves and hydraulic jump, especially, promotes boundary layer separation, the generation of low-level turbulent zones and rotor circulation or reversal flow within boundary layer. When drag coefficient becomes C_d = 10^–4, lee waves remain steady states and the first evolution cycle maintains much longer than that of C_d = 10^–3. In the case of the highest drag coefficient C_d = 10^–2, surface friction suppresses wave breaking and the onset of hydraulic jump, and reduces greatly the amplitude and intensity of lee waves and down slope wind.

Keywords

Lee Waves; Downslope Wind; Surface Friction; Cyclic; Numerical Simulation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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