A Linearized Analysis of Diurnal Boundary Layer Convergence over the Topography of the United States

Abstract

A linearized model of forced Boussinesq, hydrostatic, gravity inertia waves is developed in a terrain-following coordinate system. Diurnally periodic motions, forced by diurnally fluctuating buoyancy forces above sloping terrain, are studied through particular solutions that represent bounds to the complete solutions. The present results suggest that gently sloping terrains exert important controls on convective activity through boundary layer convergence generation. The model solutions appear to he most sensitive to details of the diurnally oscillating thermal boundary layer. They are also rather sensitive to synoptic-scale ambient circulations as well as dissipation, but apparently less sensitive to horizontal variations of stratification.