4.4
The Use of an Effective Froude Number in Non-Uniform Flow
P. Alexander Reinecke, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and D. R. Durran
We use a three-dimensional numerical model to investigate the utility of the inverse ``Froude number'', ε = Nh/U (where N is the buoyancy frequency, U is the cross mountain wind speed, and h is the mountain height), in determining the flow response, a-priori, when an upstream inversion below the mountain top is present.
Our simulations are initialized with an upstream inversion at three levels below the mountain top and a control upstream condition where no inversion is present. We test two ways to estimate the stability of the upstream conditions; an average, where N is averaged below the top of the inversion, and a bulk estimate, where we calculate the total change of the potential temperature below the top of the inversion and use this to estimate N. We use our estimated value of N to determine an ``effective'' inverse Froude number, εe. We span a range of εe and mountain shapes, as defined by the ratio of the cross-stream to along-stream length scales, β, to map situations with upstream inversions into the parameter space εe × β. In particular we investigate where the threshold of upstream blocking, wave breaking, and lee vortex formation maps into this parameter space.
Our results suggest it is better to use a bulk estimate of N rather than an average of N when constructing εe, but even then, there are substantial differences in the threshold condition for upstream blocking, wave breaking, and lee vortex formation between layered atmospheres and a uniformly stratified flow with ε = εe.
Session 4, WAKES AND LEE SIDE PHENOMENA
Monday, 21 June 2004, 3:15 PM-5:00 PM
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