Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The Influence of Topography and Ambient Stability on the Characteristics of Cold-Air Pools: A Numerical Investigation

Marwan Katurji Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Search for other papers by Marwan Katurji in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
Shiyuan Zhong Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Search for other papers by Shiyuan Zhong in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Oct 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-11-0169.1
Page(s):
1740–1749
Restricted access

Abstract

A high-resolution numerical investigation of a cold-air pooling process (under quiescent conditions) is carried out that systematically highlights the relations between the characteristics of the cold-air pools (e.g., slope winds, vertical temperature and wind structure, and cooling rate) and the characteristics of the topography (e.g., basin size and slope angle) under different ambient stabilities. The Advanced Regional Prediction System model is used to simulate 40 different scenarios at 100-m (10 m) horizontal (vertical) resolution. Results are within the range of similar observed phenomena. The main physical process governing the cooling process near the basin floor (<200 m in height) was found to be longwave radiative flux divergence, whereas vertical advection of temperature dominated the cooling process for the upper-basin areas. The maximum downslope wind speed is linearly correlated with both basin size and slope angle, with stronger wind corresponding to larger basin and lower slope angle. As the basin size increases, the influence of slope angle on maximum downslope wind decreases and the maximum is located farther down the slope. These relationships do not appear to be sensitive to stability, but weaker stability produces more cooling in the basin atmosphere by allowing stronger rising motion and adiabatic cooling. Insight gained from this study helps to improve the understanding of the cold-air pooling process within the investigated settings.

Corresponding author address: Marwan Katurji, Dept. of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. E-mail: katurji@msu.edu

Abstract

A high-resolution numerical investigation of a cold-air pooling process (under quiescent conditions) is carried out that systematically highlights the relations between the characteristics of the cold-air pools (e.g., slope winds, vertical temperature and wind structure, and cooling rate) and the characteristics of the topography (e.g., basin size and slope angle) under different ambient stabilities. The Advanced Regional Prediction System model is used to simulate 40 different scenarios at 100-m (10 m) horizontal (vertical) resolution. Results are within the range of similar observed phenomena. The main physical process governing the cooling process near the basin floor (<200 m in height) was found to be longwave radiative flux divergence, whereas vertical advection of temperature dominated the cooling process for the upper-basin areas. The maximum downslope wind speed is linearly correlated with both basin size and slope angle, with stronger wind corresponding to larger basin and lower slope angle. As the basin size increases, the influence of slope angle on maximum downslope wind decreases and the maximum is located farther down the slope. These relationships do not appear to be sensitive to stability, but weaker stability produces more cooling in the basin atmosphere by allowing stronger rising motion and adiabatic cooling. Insight gained from this study helps to improve the understanding of the cold-air pooling process within the investigated settings.

Corresponding author address: Marwan Katurji, Dept. of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. E-mail: katurji@msu.edu
Save
Cover Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

  • Baines, P. G., 2001: Mixing in flows down gentle slopes into stratified environments. J. Fluid Mech., 443, 237–270.

  • Beare, R. J., and Coauthors, 2006: An intercomparison of large-eddy simulations of the stable boundary layer. Bound.-Layer Meteor., 118, 247–272.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chou, M. D., 1990: Parameterization for the absorption of solar radiation by O2 and CO2 with application to climate studies. J. Climate, 3, 209–217.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chou, M. D., 1992: A solar radiation model for climate studies. J. Atmos. Sci., 49, 762–772.

  • Chou, M. D., and M. J. Suarez, 1994: An efficient thermal infrared radiation parameterization for use in general circulation models. NASA Tech. Memo. 104606, 85 pp. [Available from NASA Center for Aerospace Information, 800 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-2934.]

  • Chow, F. K., A. P. Weigel, R. L. Street, M. W. Rotach, and M. Xue, 2006: High-resolution large-eddy simulations of flow in a steep alpine valley. Part I: Methodology, verification, and sensitivity experiments. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 45, 63–86.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Clements, C. B., C. D. Whiteman, and J. D. Horel, 2003: Cold-air-pool structure and evolution in a mountain basin: Peter Sinks, Utah. J. Appl. Meteor., 42, 752–768.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • De Wekker, S. F. J., and C. D. Whiteman, 2006: On the time scale of nocturnal boundary layer cooling in valleys and basins and over plains. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 45, 813–820.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fedorovich, E., and Coauthors, 2004: Entrainment into sheared convective boundary layers as predicted by different large eddy simulation codes. Preprints, 16th Symp. on Boundary Layers and Turbulence, Amer. Meteor. Soc., P4.7. [Available online at https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/78656.pdf.]

  • Haiden, T., and C. D. Whiteman, 2005: Katabatic flow mechanisms on a low-angle slope. J. Appl. Meteor., 44, 113–126.

  • Hoggarth, A. M., H. D. Reeves, and Y. L. Lin, 2006: Formation and maintenance mechanisms of the stable layer over the Po Valley during MAP IOP-8. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 3336–3354.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Katurji, M., S. Zhong, and P. Zawar-Reza, 2011: Long-range transport of terrain-induced turbulence from high-resolution numerical simulations. Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 11, 9797–9829.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Klemp, J. B., and D. R. Durran, 1983: An upper boundary condition permitting internal gravity wave radiation in numerical mesoscale models. Mon. Wea. Rev., 111, 430–444.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lee, T. J., R. A. Pielke, R. C. Kessler, and J. Weaver, 1989: Influence of cold pools downstream of mountain barriers on downslope winds and flushing. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 2041–2058.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mahrt, L., 1982: Momentum balance of gravity flows. J. Atmos. Sci., 39, 2701–2711.

  • Malek, E., T. Davis, R. Martin, and P. Silva, 2006: Meteorological and environmental aspects of one of the worst national air pollution episodes (January, 2004) in Logan, Cache Valley, Utah, USA. Atmos. Res., 79, 108–122.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Monti, P., H. J. S. Fernando, M. Princevac, W. C. Chan, T. A. Kowalewski, and E. R. Pardyjak, 2002: Observations of flow and turbulence in the nocturnal boundary layer over a slope. J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 2513–2534.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Princevac, M., H. J. S. Fernando, and C. D. Whiteman, 2005: Turbulent entrainment into natural gravity-driven flows. J. Fluid Mech., 533, 259–268.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rakovec, J., J. MerÅ¡e, S. Jernej, and B. Paradiž, 2002: Turbulent dissipation of the cold-air pool in a basin: Comparison of observed and simulated development. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 79 (3-4), 195–213.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reeves, H. D., and D. J. Stensrud, 2009: Synoptic-scale flow and valley cold pool evolution in the western United States. Wea. Forecasting, 24, 1625–1643.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Smith, S. A., A. R. Brown, S. B. Vosper, P. A. Murkin, and A. T. Veal, 2010: Observations and simulations of cold air pooling in valleys. Bound.-Layer Meteor., 134, 85–108.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Steinacker, R., and Coauthors, 2007: A sinkhole field experiment in the eastern Alps. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88, 701–716.

  • Weigel, A. P., F. K. Chow, M. W. Rotach, R. L. Street, and M. Xue, 2006: High-resolution large-eddy simulations of flow in a steep Alpine valley. Part II: Flow structure and heat budgets. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 45, 87–107.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Whiteman, C. D., and S. Zhong, 2008: Downslope flows on a low-angle slope and their interactions with valley inversions. Part I: Observations. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 47, 2023–2038.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Whiteman, C. D., X. Bian, and S. Zhong, 1999: Wintertime evolution of the temperature inversion in the Colorado plateau basin. J. Appl. Meteor., 38, 1103–1117.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Whiteman, C. D., S. Zhong, W. J. Shaw, J. M. Hubbe, X. Bian, and J. Mittelstadt, 2001: Cold pools in the Columbia Basin. Wea. Forecasting, 16, 432–447.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Whiteman, C. D., T. Haiden, B. Pospichal, S. Eisenbach, and R. Steinacker, 2004: Minimum temperatures, diurnal temperature ranges, and temperature inversions in limestone sinkholes of different sizes and shapes. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 43, 1224–1236.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wolyn, P. G., and T. B. McKee, 1989: Deep stable layers in the intermountain western United States. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 461–472.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Xue, M., K. K. Droegemeier, and V. Wong, 2000: The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS)—A multi-scale nonhydrostatic atmospheric simulation and prediction model. Part I: Model dynamics and verification. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 75 (3-4), 161–193.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Xue, M., and Coauthors, 2001: The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS)—A multi-scale nonhydrostatic atmospheric simulation and prediction tool. Part II: Model physics and applications. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 76 (1-4), 143–165.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Yoshino, M. M., 1984: Thermal belt and cold air drainage on the mountain slope and cold air lake in the basin at quiet, clear night cold air drainage intermittent nature of the flow. GeoJournal, 8 (3), 235–250.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zängl, G., 2005: Formation of extreme cold-air pools in elevated sinkholes: An idealized numerical process study. Mon. Wea. Rev., 133, 925–941.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhong, S., and C. D. Whiteman, 2008: Downslope flows on a low-angle slope and their interactions with valley inversions. Part II: Numerical modeling. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 47, 2039–2057.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhong, S., C. D. Whiteman, X. Bian, W. J. Shaw, and J. M. Hubbe, 2001: Meteorological processes affecting the evolution of a wintertime cold air pool in the Columbia Basin. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 2600–2613.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 790 496 47
PDF Downloads 349 121 12