Numerical experiments on the generation of long ocean waves in coastal waters of the Buenos Aires province,Argentina

A numerical model (two horizontal dimensions, vertically integrated) is used to investigate the generation of long ocean waves, ranging from 20 min to almost 2 h, at Buenos Aires continental shelf. The domain includes the Río de la Plata estuary and the continental shelf together and extends from 33.5° to 40.5°S latitude, and from 51° to 63°W longitude. Sea-level oscillations are modeled by forcing with passage of atmospheric cold fronts and atmospheric gravity waves. Both forcing mechanisms, which have been present during high activity lapses of long ocean waves, are mathematically implemented. After several numerical simulations, it is concluded that the pressure and wind fields associated to cold fronts do not generate long ocean waves in the area, though they do produce disturbances with periods longer than the tidal ones. On the other hand, it is so concluded that atmospheric gravity waves are an effective mechanism to force long ocean waves. Results obtained show that generation of long ocean waves is highly sensitive depending on the propagation direction and the phase speed of the atmospheric gravity waves. The long ocean wave event detected during the large-amplitude gravity-wave event of 13 October 1985 is successfully simulated. Finally, all our results suggest that atmospheric gravity waves are a highly effective mechanism forcing for the generation of long ocean waves in Buenos Aires coastal waters.     

A Simple Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Flow in Complex Terrain in the Context of Wind Energy Modelling

A simple temporal and spatial analysisis done on wind speed and direction data from a number ofmeteorological towers separated by distances between roughly 1 and 100 kilometres. The analysis is done in the context of expected model error in wind energy calculations. The study first uses single point statistics to show the evolution of mean values with time. It is shown that strong seasonal signals are present and that stable means are achieved only after averaging periods of a year or more. The study then uses discrete Fourier transforms to show that significant amounts of spectral energy reside in modes with periods of a few days to less than a day. Frequency dependent cross correlation values are then derived and used to show how correlation between towers diminishes with increasing frequency. The mechanism responsible for this diminished correlation is shown through the comparison of cross-correlation phase as a function of frequency and its relationship to distance between towers. Error in wind energy estimates are shown to be strongly related to correlation and therefore distance over which the prediction is made. In summary, much of the inaccuracy in modelling flow in the context of wind energy calculations is due to a lack of scale separation between the deterministic part of the flow, which is well modelled, and that part of the flow that is stochastic at the length and time scales modelled.     

变化涡动沾性系数的Ekman动量近似模式风场结构

在边界层动力学中，涡动粘性系数是影响边界层风场结构的一个重要参数。本文利用边界层动力学中的Ekman动量近似理论，给出了涡动粘性系数随高度缓变条件下的Ekman动量近似边界层模式解，着重讨论了边界层的风场结构、水平散度、垂直涡度以及边界层顶部的垂直速度。结果分析表明：与常值涡动粘性系数情况相比，在边界层低层随高度增加的涡动粘性系数可以导致低层边界层风速随高度迅速增加，即风速垂直切变增加，同时风速矢与地转风之间的夹角减小。惯性项作用可以导致上述作用在气旋性区域减小、而在反气旋性区域增大。随高度增加的涡动粘性系数导致水平散度绝对值、垂直涡度绝对值以及边界层顶部的垂直速度绝对值在气旋性区域减小，而在反气性旋区域增大。涡动粘性系数与惯性之间的非线性相互作用是边界层动力学中重要过程。     

一个热带太平洋距平模式对风应力异常的响应

本文利用１９７０至１９８９年共２０年的逐月平均的太平着区的表面风应力和海表温度距平的分析资料，检验了以前设计的热带太平洋和热带大气距平模式的模拟性能，通过使用两组风应力异常场即观测场和热带大气模式对观测海温响应所得的模拟场，重点分析了热带太平洋距平模式对风应力异常的响应特征，结果表明，本文海洋距平模式完全有能力再现ＥＮＳＯ循环折际变化性及其水平结构，且赤道中太平洋区域的低频风应力异常对于ＥＮＳＯ事     

丘陵山区低空急流特性分析

利用丘陵区边界层实测资料，分析了该地区８－９月份低空急流的特征及其演变规律；并从测站所处的地理环境，山凰 地形的力差异以及适中的风平流作用等，探讨了测站上空逆温的形成及其对低空急流的形成和维持作用，根据地形热力差所导致的气压斜压性，研究了低空急流的生消可能机制。     

一种初始方程中应用实测风进行风场初值化的方法

本文提出一种利用实测风场、高度场、温度场和地面三小时气压变化资料,考虑风场和质量场之间基本满足准地转平衡关系,大气具有准无辐散性,但又保留一部分与地面气压变化相应散度的地转偏差,将以实测的等压面风场插到σ坐标的风场进行订正的初值化方法,并用一个单时资料进行初步试验.文中还对风场初值化问题进行了讨论.     

The role of wind direction in eolian transport on a narrow sandy beach

Comparison of eolian transport during five high-velocity wind events over a 29 day period on a narrow estuarine beach in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA, reveals the temporal variability of transport, due to changes in direction of wind approach. Mean wind speed measured 6 m above the dune crest for the five events ranged from 8·5 to 15·9 ms^?1. Mean wind direction was oblique to the shoreline (63° from shore-normal) during one event but was within 14° of shore-normal during the other events. Eolian transport is greatest during low tide and rising tide, when the beach source area is widest and when drying of surface sediments occurs. The quantity of sediment caught in a vertical trap for the five events varied from a total of 0·07 to 113·73 kgm^?1. Differences in temperature, relative humidity and moisture and salt content of surficial sediments were slight. Mean grain sizes ranged from 0·33 to 0·58 mm, causing slight differences in threshold shear velocity, but shear velocities exceeded the threshold required for transport during all events. Beach width, measured normal to the shoreline, varied from 15·5 to 18·0 m; beach slope differed by 0·5°. The oblique wind during one event created a source width nearly double the width during other days. Beach slope, measured in the direction of the wind, was less than half as steep as the slope measured normal to the shoreline. The amount of sand trapped during the oblique wind was over 20 times greater than any other event, even those with higher shear velocities. The ability of the beach surface to supply grains to the air stream is limited on narrow beaches, but increased source width, due to oblique wind approach, can partially overcome limitations of surface conditions on the beach.     

Comments on: ‘The Neutral, Barotropic Planetary Boundary Layer, Capped by a Low-Level Inversion’ by G. D. Hess, Boundary-Layer Meteorology (2004) 110, pp. 319–355

Precision measurements indicate that the stability capping of the neutral planetary boundary layer (PBL) that leads to a reduced PBL height is caused by the very stable upper part of the PBL, rather than by an overlying inversion. Radiative processes related to liquid water in boundary-layer clouds seem to play the key role for the formation of the stable upper PBL. The famous Leipzig Profile – generally considered as an example of a neutral PBL – has been included in Hess’s analysis because its PBL height is considerably lower than the ca. 3000 m to be expected by numerical models in truly neutral conditions. An analysis of the original observations reveals that the Leipzig PBL was stable and that it can be consistently treated as a ‘normal’ stable PBL with a height of ca. 700 m. A further finding is that the super-geostrophic PBL wind speed maxima predicted by almost all models are not observed in near-steady-state conditions. For the ‘ranking’ of analytical models versus numerical models, the comparisons with measurements show that the analytical models perform comparably well and even partially better than the numerical models.     

A three-dimensional finite-element model of wind effects upon higher harmonics of the internal tide

A non-linear three-dimensional unstructured grid model of the M₂ tide in the shelf edge area off the west coast of Scotland is used to examine the spatial distribution of the M₂ internal tide and its higher harmonics in the region. In addition, the spatial variability of the tidally induced turbulent kinetic energy and associated mixing in the area are considered. Initial calculations involve only tidal forcing, although subsequent calculations are performed with up-welling and down-welling favourable winds to examine how these influence the tidal distribution (particularly the higher harmonics) and mixing in the region. Both short- and long-duration winds are used in these calculations. Tidal calculations show that there is significant small-scale spatial variability particularly in the higher harmonics of the internal tide in the region. In addition, turbulence energy and mixing exhibit appreciable spatial variability in regions of rapidly changing topography, with increased mixing occurring above seamounts. Wind effects significantly change the distribution of the M₂ internal tide and its higher harmonics, with appreciable differences found between up- and down-welling winds and long- and short-duration winds because of differences in mixing and the presence of wind-induced flows. The implications for model validation, particularly in terms of energy transfer to higher harmonics, and mixing are briefly discussed.     

Control of wind strength and frequency in the Aral Sea basin during the late Holocene

Changing content of detrital input in laminated sediments traced by XRF scanning and microfacies analyses reflect prominent variations in sedimentation processes in the Aral Sea. A high-resolution record of titanium from a core retrieved in the northwestern Large Aral Sea allows a continuous reconstruction of wind strength and frequency in western Central Asia for the past 1500 yr. During AD 450–700, AD 1210–1265, AD 1350–1750 and AD 1800–1975, detrital inputs (bearing titanium) are high, documenting an enhanced early spring atmospheric circulation associated with an increase in intensity of the Siberian High pressure system over Central Asia. In contrast, lower titanium content during AD 1750–1800 and AD 1980–1985 reflects a diminished influence of the Siberian High during early spring with a reduced atmospheric circulation. A moderate circulation characterizes the time period AD 700–1150. Unprecedented weakened atmospheric circulation over western Central Asia are inferred during ca. AD 1180–1210 and AD 1265–1310 with a considerable decrease in dust storm frequency, sedimentation rates, lamination thickness and detrital inputs (screened at 40-μm resolution). Our results are concurrent with changes in the intensity of the Siberian High during the past 1400 yr as reported in the GISP2 Ice Core from Greenland.