Numerical Analysis of Convective Motions over a Mountain Ridge

Abstract

The convection associated with a valley wind regime was analyzed by numerical techniques. The Boussinesq equations and their energy properties were used to define the terms computed from observed data. The numerical results are based on a 1-km horizontal and 100-m vertical mesh. Results from the numerical analysis of the observed data were compared with numerical simulations of valley winds and convection published in the meteorological literature. In general, agreement was found between the data and the numerical simulations. The simulations have reproduced most of the features and processes of the valley wind system. The perturbation motion field was partially recovered from the total wind field. The perturbation stream functions, the solenoid fields, and to a certain extent, the energy properties provide the best evidence of the agreement. The valley wind reaches a quasi-steady state in the afternoon. This steady state results from an apparent maximum rate of conversion of potential to kinetic energy.