Modeling of Stable Air Flow over a Complex Region

Abstract

A numerical model is proposed to describe the flow of stable surface air over a region of complex topographic relief and nonuniform surface temperature. A linear model is acheived by neglecting the Coriolis force and by assuming that coupling between the motion of surface air and the overlying geostrophic wind is through the pressure gradient rather than momentum transfer. The two-dimensional, steady-state, potential flow model which results takes into account the first-order influences of topographic relief, the land breeze, slope and valley winds, and the synoptic-scale pressure gradient. The wind fields computed using the model are in reasonably good agreement with point wind data taken at Richards Bay on the Natal Coast.