Modelling Local Sea-Breeze Flow and Associated Dispersion Patterns Over a Coastal Area in North-East Spain: A Case Study

The structure and evolution of the sea breeze in the north-west part of the Mediterranean (Catalonia, north-east Spain) is studied both experimentally and, predominantly, using numerical models to increase understanding of sea-breeze structure and three-dimensional (3D) pollution distributions in coastal environments. Sea-breeze components are modelled and analyzed using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Centre for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5). The results show that the growth and structure of the sea-breeze circulation is modulated by the synoptic flow and especially by the complex topography of the area. 3D pollution transport in a sea breeze is modelled by coupling the MM5 to the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, with results indicating that topography and synoptic flow are the main factors modulating horizontal and vertical pollutant transport in sea-breeze episodes. In this way, horizontal dispersion is limited by the complex topography of the area, whilst the sea-breeze flow is intensified by anabatic upslope winds that contribute to vertical pollutant transport. The numerical model results also indicate that the sea-breeze circulation with a weak return flow at upper levels grows due to a synoptic onshore wind component. However, such a sea-breeze circulation is capable of transporting pollutants towards the coast.     

一次冷锋过境后的海风三维结构数值模拟

为研究大尺度系统风对海风的影响以及海风三维结构特征,利用山东省123个地面自动站资料、青岛地区三十多个内陆及沿海、海岛观测站以及奥帆赛场3个浮标站资料,对2006年8月21日青岛一次海风个例进行了分析,并利用美国俄克拉荷马大学风暴分析预测中心开发的ARPS(the Advanced Regional Prediction System)模式,对海风过程进行了数值模拟研究。结果发现:在较强的离岸风背景下,当内陆气温高于海面气温2℃左右时,海风也可以发生。海风首先在海岸线附近的海上开始,发展的同时向内陆及远海地区推进。海风低层环流很浅,主要位于500 m以下。在较强的偏北离岸风下,海风向内陆推进的距离很短。偏北的大尺度系统风由于渤海冷下垫面的影响,不利于青岛海风的维持。海风开始时,在1500～2500 m高度处同时有反环流出现,但直到傍晚前后,海风的垂直环流圈才发展得比较清晰,其高度也更接近地面。海风消亡后,高层的垂直环流圈及反环流维持3 h左右才逐渐消亡。     

Impact of the Rhône and Durance valleys on sea-breeze circulation in the Marseille area

Sea-breeze dynamics in the Marseille area, in the south of France, is investigated in the framework of the ESCOMPTE experiment conducted during summer 2001 in order to evaluate the role of thermal circulations on pollutant transport and ventilation. Under particular attention in this paper is the sea-breeze channelling by the broad Rhône valley and the narrow Durance valley, both oriented nearly-north–south, i.e., perpendicular to the coastline, and its possible impact on the sea-breeze penetration, intensity and depth, which are key information for air pollution issues. One situation of slight synoptic pressure gradient leading to a northerly flow in the Rhône valley (25 June 2001) and one situation of a weak onshore prevailing synoptic wind (26 June 2001) are compared. The impact of the Rhône and Durance valleys on the sea-breeze dynamics on these two typical days is generalized to the whole ESCOMPTE observing period.The present study shows by combining simple scaling analysis with wind data from meteorological surface stations and Doppler lidars that (i) the Durance valley always affects the sea breeze by accelerating the flow. A consequence is that the Durance valley contributes to weaken the temperature gradient along the valley and thus the sea-breeze circulation. In some cases, the acceleration of the channelled flow in the Durance valley suppresses the sea-breeze flow by temperature gradient inhibition; (ii) the Rhône valley does not generally affect the sea breeze significantly. However, if the sea breeze is combined with an onshore flow, it leads to further penetration inland and intensification of the low-level southerly flow. In this situation, lateral constriction may accelerate the sea breeze. Simple scaling analysis suggests that Saint Paul (44.35°N, about 100 km from the coastline) is the lower limit where sea breeze can be affected by the Rhône valley. These conclusions have implications in air quality topics as channelled sea breeze may advect far inland pollutants which may be incorporated into long-range transport, particularly in the Durance valley.     

Sea breeze development under an offshore synoptic wind in the South-Western Cape and implications for the Stellenbosch wine-producing area

Summary Sea breezes were investigated during the maturation period of wine grapes in the South-Western Cape under particular synoptic wind conditions (onshore for Table Bay and offshore for False Bay). Observations from an automatic weather station network located in the Stellenbosch wine-producing area as well as the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System (RAMS, non-hydrostatic, parallel, version 4.3) were used. Results showed that two sea breezes developed, one from Table Bay late in the morning, and the other from False Bay later in the afternoon. The coastal low strengthened and deflected the sea breeze from Table Bay towards the south and south-east of the study area, while the offshore large-scale circulation hindered the development of the sea breeze in the opposite direction over False Bay and delayed its movement towards land. The decrease in temperature resulting from the onset of the sea breeze from the Atlantic early in the afternoon could be significant for viticulture, reducing the duration and intensity of high temperature stress on grapevine functioning at the coolest locations.     

Characteristics of sea breeze front development with various synoptic conditions and its impact on lower troposphere ozone formation

To examine the correlation between the sizes of sea breeze fronts and pollutants under the influence of synoptic fields, a numerical simulation was conducted in the southeast coastal area of the Korean Peninsula, where relatively high concentrations of pollutants occur because of the presence of various kinds of industrial developments. Sea breeze and sea breeze front days during the period 2005-09 were identified using wind profiler data and, according to the results, the number of days were 72 and 53, respectively. When synoptic forcing was weak, sea breeze fronts moved fast both in horizontal fields and in terms of wind velocity, while in the case of strong synoptic forcing, sea breeze fronts remained at the coast or moved slowly due to strong opposing flows. In this case, the sea breeze front development function and horizontal potential temperature difference were larger than with weak synoptic forcing. The ozone concentration that moves together with sea breeze fronts was also formed along the frontal surfaces. Ozone advection and diffusion in the case of strong synoptic forcing was suppressed at the frontal surface and the concentration gradient was large. The vertical distribution of ozone was very low due to the Thermal Internal Boundary Layer (TIBL) being low.     

Evaluation of High-Resolution WRF Model Simulations of Surface Wind over the West Coast of India

This paper presents results from a statistical validation of the hindcasts of surface wind by a high-reso-ution-mesoscale atmospheric numerical model Advanced Research WRF （ARW3.3）, which is set up to force the operational coastal ocean forecast system at Indian Na- tional Centre for Ocean Information Services （INCOIS）. Evaluation is carried out based on comparisons of day-3 forecasts of surface wind with in situ and remote-sensing data. The results show that the model predicts the surface wind fields fairly accurately over the west coast of India, with high skill in predicting the surface wind during the pre-monsoon season. The model predicts the diurnal variability of the surface wind with reasonable accuracy. The model simulates the land-sea breeze cycle in the coastal region realistically, which is very clearly observed during the northeast monsoon and pre-monsoon season and is less prominent during the southwest monsoon season.     

Turbulence characteristics in the coastal zone with breeze circulation

Turbulence characteristics in the surface layer of the coastal area of Akhtopol (Bulgaria) under conditions of the breeze circulation are measured. The measurements were carried out at the level of 4.5 m by means of three-component ultrasonic anemometer. To estimate the wind regime in the atmospheric boundary layer, the sodar data and synoptic charts were used. All turbulent characteristics except the correlation coefficient of the friction flow have an appreciable daily course in the case of the sea breeze. In the frontal zone, some characteristics demonstrate sometimes short-term variations of their numerical values. The sea-land front of the breeze circulation is effectively detected from the measurements of wind speed, wind direction, and temperature in the surface layer. It is also possible to judge about the breeze circulation type and turbulence structure in this layer on the basis of these measurements.     

华西秋雨起止与秋冬季节大气环流转换

根据1961—2010年平均的逐候NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、1979—2008年平均的逐候CMAP降水资料以及1961—2010年逐候平均的中国553个台站降水资料,讨论了华西秋雨起止日期与秋冬季大气环流转换特征的关系。结果表明,华西地区降水年变化表现为明显的夏、秋双峰特征,8月4—8日(第44候)为双峰间的低谷,10月8—12日(第57候)以后降水降至年平均以下。由此,将华西秋雨建立和结束日期分别确定为8月9—13日(第45候)和10月8—12日(第57候)。华西秋雨的建立对应于东亚夏季风开始向冬季风转变,其标志性环流调整特征是江南地区的西南风转为东南风。东亚经向海平面气压梯度在8月9—13日(第45候)由南高北低转为南低北高,造成850 hPa江南地区的西南风转为东南风,该东南风与来自孟加拉湾的热带西南季风交汇于华西地区,形成风向和水汽的辐合,使得华西地区的降水在夏峰之后再次增强,华西秋雨由此建立。华西秋雨的结束则对应于孟加拉湾热带西南季风结束和东亚冬季风完全建立,其标志性环流调整特征是孟加拉湾地区的西南风转为东北风。随着东亚纬向海平面气压梯度由北向南依次发生东高西低向东低西高的转变,东亚冬季风也逐步向南推进,9月8—12日(第51候)东北冬季风到达江南地区,10月8—12日(第57候)进一步推进到南海地区,此时来自孟加拉湾的热带西南季风消失,造成华西地区完全受大陆冷高压控制,东亚季风经圈环流也转为冬季型哈得来环流,东亚冬季风完全建立,华西秋雨也随之结束。因此,华西秋雨起止可能与东亚夏季风、南亚夏季风向冬季风的转变时间不同步有关,东亚季风与南亚季风的共同作用使得华西秋雨成为亚洲夏季风在中国大陆上的最后一个雨季。     

Synoptic and local scale atmospheric circulation associated with air pollution episodes in an urban Mediterranean area

Air pollution episodes in urban coastal areas follow certain pre-determined patterns, being associated with certain local meteorological conditions and emission of primary pollutants. In this study, the synoptic and local scale atmospheric circulation that prevails during air pollution episodes in a coastal major city in Greece, Thessaloniki, is examined for a period of 15 years (1989–2004). The study signifies the importance of studying air pollution meteorological patterns between coastal areas with different terrain characteristics. For Thessaloniki, it was found that the episodes occur mainly during the cold period of the year, while four types of synoptic scale circulation were recognized (I, II, III, IV) and five patterns of the local scale circulation (A1, A2, B1, B2 and B3). The highest percentage of episodes is associated with the presence of an anticyclone over the northern Greece (types I and IV), being characterized by weak or very weak surface pressure gradient intensity, according to the position and extension of the anticyclone. Moreover, a temperature increase of at least 1°C during the previous 3 days is required in the lower troposphere. Consistent with the synoptic conditions, the development of the sea breeze plays a crucial role in the occurrence of the episodes, even in the cold period of the year, when the sea breeze can still develop with smaller frequency and intensity. Finally, it was found that a small number of episodes is related with the advection of polluted air masses from the industrial area in the northwest of the city and from the Eordaia area in the west, which is the largest lignite producing area of Balkans.     

Numerical Simulation of a Sea Breeze Under Dominant Synoptic Conditions at Perth

Summary  The development and movement of sea breezes under the influence of a thermally induced synoptic coastal trough and coastal terrain are simulated. These simulations are analyzed in the context of an extensive observational data set. The synoptic trough acts to determine the presence and intensity of the sea breeze through the advection of warm air in the surface layer whereas local topography acts to enhance the breeze and turn the low-level flow. Interaction between the sea breeze circulation and the trough assists trough movement across the coastline. Received June 16, 1999/Revised November 3, 1999     

Inland Propagation of Sea Breeze under Opposing Offshore Wind

Summary  According to past experience, the nearly stagnant conditions caused by the presumed equilibrium between the Saronikos Gulf sea breeze and an opposing synoptic flow is identified as the principal mechanism leading to high pollution episodes in Athens during the summer. However, previous experimental work has not examined in detail the interaction of the sea breeze flow with the opposing background flow. In this context, recent experimental work covering the basic key-locations of the Athens Basin focused on the inland propagation of the southerly sea breeze from the coast to the northern part of the basin mainly under moderate northerly background wind. During this campaign, a network of four meteorological stations established along the Athens Basin and a high range acoustic sounder at the centre of Athens operated over a two months time period in the summer of 1993. In addition, tethered balloon flights in the centre of Athens and on a sea vessel about 15 km offshore were employed during an experimental day with moderate opposing background wind. The results from this experimental campaign include the documentation of the sea breeze delay and its intensity as a function of a sea breeze index and features of the vertical structure of the sea breeze over land as well as over sea. Received March 20, 1998 Revised October 12, 1998     

多云天气下海南岛地形对局地海风环流结构影响的数值模拟

采用WRF中尺度天气预报模式,针对海南岛多云天气条件下的一次典型海风个例,对局地海风环流结构进行数值模拟,分析海风环流的演变特征,并通过设计改变海南岛地形的敏感性试验,探究地形对海南岛局地海风环流结构以及云水分布的影响。结果表明:海岛西部陡峭的山区造成海风强迫抬升,偏南背景风使得海岛北部高空回流明显,海岛西部、北部的海风结构较为完整;地形高度越高,海岛南部山区的阻挡作用越强,西部地区的海风高空回流特征越显著,西部、西北部云水混合比的位置也越深入内陆;受南海季风的影响,与晴空天气相比,多云天气下海风强盛期全岛的最大风速稍大,海风在垂直方向上达到的高度更高;移平地形后,多云天气下全岛风速平均仅减少2~3 m·s^-1,而晴空天气下全岛风速则大大减弱,即多云天气下海风环流水平结构受地形的影响比晴空天气下弱。     

Low-level jet development and the interaction of different scale physical processes

Two cases of low-level jet events and the interaction of the involved physical processes are investigated. The vertical distribution of the dominant atmospheric motions is studied, using data from a SODAR-RASS system and in situ instrumentation, at a coastal region of the Eastern Mediterranean (Messogia Plain in Attica—Greece). The first low-level jet (LLJ) case was observed during the cold period, after the passage of a cold front and could be characterized as purely synoptic. Coherent inertial motions were found to follow the frontal surface at both the wind components, with larger amplitudes at the alongfront wind component, a fact consistent with the deformation theory. The contribution of the diurnal cycle was found weak in both the components, due to the cloudiness and the small diurnal temperature range, while the synoptic scale dominated the northerly wind component. The second LLJ case represents two successive summertime large-scale jets. The absence of cloudiness and the increased solar radiation provided a favorable environment for the development of local flows which interacted with the synoptic wind field. This interaction led to a LLJ with an oscillating core and a variable depth. The diurnal cycle had a strong imprint on the wind component along the sea breeze direction (easterly), while the synoptic variations dominated the northerly wind component. Strong amplitudes of a coherent quasi 2-day variation were also found in both the cases.     

The evolution and structure of a tropical island sea/land-breeze system, northern Australia

Summary This paper is concerned with sea/land-breeze systems over relatively flat tropical islands to the north of continental Australia. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the relatively small body of knowledge on tropical island sea/land-breeze systems in this region and to highlight their particular characteristics. The evolution and structure of coastal circulations over the Tiwi Islands, northern Australia are examined using observations made during the Maritime Continent Thunderstorm Experiment (MCTEX), November/December 1995. During the transition period between dry and wet (monsoon) seasons, strong diurnal surface heating dominates the local meteorology. Thermally modified pressure differences across the coastline are seen to control the timing, direction and intensity of local winds. The evolution and structure of the resulting circulations appear to be affected greatest by tropospheric stability and friction, while the Coriolis force, synoptic winds and topography are of much less importance in this case. Consequently, even small differences in surface properties seem to produce strong and well defined local wind circulations. The depth of the sea breeze averaged 1200 m, while the land breeze was considerably shallower (290 m). Return flows were evident in both circulations, although better defined in land breeze cases. Day to day variation in vertical structure was considerable and appeared to be controlled by stability in the lower troposphere. Spatial patterns of surface temperature, pressure and wind show formation of an island heat low by day and a cool high pressure centre at night, resulting in island scale convergence and divergence, respectively. Received February 27, 2000/Revised October 16, 2000     

Thermal effect of the sea breeze on the structure of the boundary layer and the heat budget over land

The daytime boundary-layer heating process and the air-land heat budget were investigated over the coastal sea-breeze region by means of observations over the Sendai plain in Japan during the summer. In this area, the onset of the sea breeze begins at the coast around 0900 LST, intruding about 35 km inland by late afternoon. The cold sea breeze creates a temperature difference of over 10°C between the coastal and inland areas in the afternoon. On the other hand, warm air advection due to the combination of the counter-sea breeze and land-to-sea synoptic wind occurs in the layer above the cold sea breeze in the coastal region. Owing to this local warm air advection, there is no significant difference in the daytime heating rate over the entire atmospheric boundary layer between the coastal and inland areas. The sensible heat flux from the land surface gradually decreases as distance from the coastline increases, being mainly attributed to the cold sea breeze. The daytime mean cold air advection due to the sea breeze is estimated asQ _adv ^local =–29 W m^–2 averaged over the sea breeze region (035 km from the coastline). This value is 17% of the surface sensible heat fluxH over the same region. The results of a two-dimensional numerical model show that the value ofQ _adv ^local /H is strongly affected by the upper-level synoptic wind direction. The absolute value ofQ _adv ^local /H becomes smaller when the synoptic wind has the opposite direction of the sea breeze. This condition occurred during the observations used in the present study.     

湛江东海岛二月海陆风环流特征研究

利用2011年2月湛江东海岛风廓线雷达资料,系统分析了湛江东海岛2月平均风场特征及海陆风特征,结果表明:2月湛江东海岛150 m高度处以东偏北出现频率最大,在E、ENE和NE三个方位的风向出现频率之和为66.6%,偏西七个方位的风向出现频率之和仅为1%。以SSW方位为界,偏东风与偏西风的出现频率差异明显。各整点的月平均风速1:00—15:00变化较小,均在1 m/s左右波动;15:00—20:00风速及风速波动都较大,最大值出现在16:00时,为2.1 m/s。2011年2月中只有2日与14日两日符合海陆风日条件,两日共同海风时段为13:00—20:00,持续7 h;陆风时段为2:00—7:00,持续5 h。海风平均风速为2.1 m/s,陆风平均风速为0.8 m/s,海风平均风速明显大于陆风风速。海风与陆风环流垂直高度相差甚小,约1.2 km,风速随高度变化趋势均为先增后减;海风最大风速出现在750 m高度处,陆风出现在500 m高度处,500～750 m高度区间海风环流强度明显强于陆风环流。2 km之上为均匀一致的系统性西风环流。     

Impact of a sea breeze on the boundary-layer dynamics and the atmospheric stratification in a coastal area of the North Sea

In-situ sodar and lidar measurements were coupled with numerical simulations for studying a sea-breeze event in a flat coastal area of the North Sea. The study’s aims included the recognition of the dynamics of a sea-breeze structure, and its effects on the lower troposphere stratification and the three-dimensional (3D) pollutant distribution. A sea breeze was observed with ground-based remote sensing instruments and analysed by means of numerical simulations using the 3D non-hydrostatic atmospheric model Meso-NH. The vertical structure of the lower troposphere was experimentally determined from the lidar and sodar measurements, while numerical simulations focused on the propagation of the sea breeze inland. The sea-breeze front, the headwind, the thermal internal boundary layer, the gravity current and the sea-breeze circulation were observed and analysed. The development of a late stratification was also observed by the lidar and simulated by the model, suggesting the formation of a stable multilayered structure. The transport of passive tracers inside the sea breeze and their redistribution above the gravity current was simulated too. Numerical modelling showed that local pollutants may travel backward to the sea above the gravity current at relatively low speed due to the shearing between the landward gravity current and the seaward synoptic wind. Such dynamic conditions may enhance an accumulation of pollutants above coastal industrial areas.     

Local Circulation Diurnal Patterns and Their Relationship with Large-Scale Flows in a Coastal Area of the Tyrrhenian Sea

In order to characterise the local low-level circulation in the Tyrrhenian Sea coastal area near Rome, the wind field observed by conventional anemometers, Doppler sodar, and rawinsonde has been analysed. The prevailing diurnal behaviour of wind speed and direction as a function of season was highlighted, and the existence of two different patterns of the local circulation, mainly due to land and sea breezes and to the drainage flow from the mouth of the Tiber valley, revealed. The comparison between the low-level circulation and synoptic flow allowed us to determine the influence of the large-scale flow on nocturnal currents that are observed at the Pratica di Mare site and the way that wind direction evolves during the day. Numerical simulations are consistent with experimental data and depict the main features of the low-level wind field in the area.     

Characteristics of the sea breeze in Attica,Greece

The characteristics of the sea breeze in the Attica region of Greece, in which Athens is located, have been studied for occasions of weak synoptic-scale pressure gradient. The analysis is based on synoptic observations from six meteorological stations, three on the coast and three inland. The three inland stations and one of the coastal stations lie almost in a straight line at different distances from the coast. For each meteorological station, the basic characteristics of the sea breeze were determined, i.e.,

1. The mean number of sea-breeze days for each calendar month.
2. The monthly mean wind speed for each synoptic hour.
3. The times of onset and cessation of the sea breeze.
4. The monthly vector mean wind, and its constancy ‘Constancy’ is defined as 100{itV{inr}/V{ins}}, where {itV{inr}} is the magnitude of the vector mean wind, and {itV{ins}} is the scalar mean wind speed. See Brooks and Carruthers (1953). (In this paper, the factor 100 is not used.) for each synoptic hour.
5. For days on which there was a sea breeze at Helliniko (the coastal reference station), the percentage number of days on which there was also a sea breeze at the given station.

An attempt was also made to determine further characteristics, such as the inland penetration of the sea breeze, its depth, the spatial and temporal variation of wind speed and direction, and the existence of the return flow. Finally, the properties of the land breeze are briefly outlined.     

Observations of sea breeze events in Rome and the surrounding area by a network of Doppler sodars

In the period June–July 1992, four Doppler sodars were operated simultaneously in Rome and the surrounding area. The data have been used to investigate the contributions from sea breeze events to the local low-level circulation. Three days in which synoptic-scale pressure gradients were weak have been selected. A number of characteristics of the sea breeze are examined including the onset and cessation of the phenomenon, the behavior of the wind speed, and the depth of the density flow. The time propagation of the events and the influence of orography are obtained from a comparison between the data at different sites. The low-level circulation in the early morning is associated with the land breeze and appears to be enhanced by a mountain wind from the surrounding hills. The observed behavior of the vertical velocity field associated with the sea breeze is consistent with model predictions.