A Numerical Experiment in Predicting Stratus Clouds

Abstract

This study is concerned with the nocturnal development of air mass stratus clouds in south-central Texas and the mechanism which may be responsible for their formation. For this purpose, use has been made of a two-dimensional model which is capable of simulating the stratus development. Stratus clouds formed in the three models tested in which terrain-induced vertical motion due to a sloping lower boundary was included. Significant differences between the three cases occurred, however, due to different choices of the eddy coefficient profiles. Stratus did not form in a model for which the lower boundary was flat.