A coupled mesoscale-model Fourier-method for idealized mountain-wave simulations over Hawaii

Mesoscale model simulations of representative trade winds impinging upon the Big Island of Hawaii are diagnosed for their mountain-wave characteristics by coupling a mesoscale model to a Fourier method. Localized phase-averaged wave momentum fluxes are calculated, which facilitates the study of wave generation from fine-scale topographic features. We find that the wave momentum fluxes are dominated by forcing from subsidiary topographic peaks, with the broader island topography controlling flow splitting and lee vortex generation. Waves also arise at the far northern and southern extremities of the island by acceleration of split flow. The strength of the local momentum fluxes proves to be sensitive to a small change in the incident flow direction. Areally integrated fluxes (wave drag) align closely with the incident flow direction and are an order of magnitude smaller than linear predictions and an order of magnitude larger than corresponding dividing streamline predictions. We briefly discuss the relevance of these results to the parameterization of subgrid-scale mountain-wave drag in climate and weather models.