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| Titel |
The dynamics of heat lows in a uniform flow |
| VerfasserIn |
T. Spengler, R. K. Smith |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2012
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 14 (2012) |
| Datensatznummer |
250060306
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Heat Lows are an important synoptic feature of dry subtropical regions, where they have a
significant effect on the local weather and climate. Previous studies on heat low dynamics in
quiescent and simple background flows have focused mostly on the structure and
diurnal variation of the low-level cyclonic circulation, which is found to be highly
ageostrophic.
The three-dimensional, hydrostatic numerical model for a heat low developed by the
authors is here used to examine the effects of different uniform background easterly flow on
the structure and diurnal cycle of a heat low over a sub-continental scale circular island
surrounded by sea. Of particular interest is the effect of the background flow on the
depth and strength of the heat low itself and on the anticyclone that surmounts
it.
It is shown that, as the strength of the basic flow is increased, the heat low is progressively
weakened. Further, the depth of the mixed layer over land and the maximum potential
temperature of this layer are reduced. The upper level anticyclone is weakened also and its
vertical development is reduced. Beyond a certain background wind strength, the anticyclone
has the form of a downstream ridge. The study completes a foundation for understanding the
structure of heat lows in nature. |
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