The Accumulation and Pooling of Drainage Flows in a Large Basin

Abstract

We describe a sequence of tethersonde and solar measurements showing the effects of the pooling of cold air drainages in a basin located along the Colorado River below the Brush drainage. Results obtained during periods of weak ambient winds show that the basin fills over a period of several hours, then eventually overflows. The depth of the pool is such as to affect tributary drainages, such as that of Brush Creek, and to cause the accumulating drainage jets to become elevated as they flow down the larger drainage channels into the basin.