Stably Stratified Flows near a Notched Transverse Ridge across the Salt Lake Valley

Abstract

This paper describes observed and simulated interactions among atmospheric forcing, cold-pool development, and complex mountain terrain at the south end of the Salt Lake valley, near the Jordan Narrows and the Traverse Range. The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS), a three-dimensional, nonhydrostatic compressible new-generation large-eddy simulation code in generalized terrain-following coordinates with advanced model parameterizations, was used. Past studies showed that a finer resolution produces more accurate simulations, and so this study used six one-way nested grids to resolve the complex topography. Horizontal grid spacing ranged from 20 km (initialized by Eta 40-km operational analyses) to 250 m; the finest grid had 200 vertically stretched levels between 5 m and 20 km above the surface. Two intense operating periods with weak synoptic forcing, stable stratification, and pronounced nighttime drainage were selected for simulation from the October 2000 Vertical Transport and Mixing (VTMX) experiment. Qualitative agreement between simulations and observations at four stations was good. Usually, the quantitative agreement was also good. Finer horizontal and vertical resolution improved agreement, capturing daytime and nighttime temperature structures, including inversion-layer strength. The simulations showed a complex flow near the Jordan Narrows, with hydraulic jumps and internal waves initiated by the Traverse Range to either side.