A wind-tunnel experiment concerning atmospheric vortex streets

Cloud patterns, in the upper part of the atmospheric boundary layer, with eddies similar to Karman vortex streets, have been observed in the lee of several isolated islands. An experiment was conducted to see if major features of these atmospheric vortex streets and associated atmospheric conditions could be simulated in a wind tunnel. A visible vortex street was observed in a wind tunnel while six atmospheric simulation criteria were at least qualitatively satisfied. The physical modeling, the atmospheric data used, the simplifying assumptions and approximations required, as well as the wind tunnel methods and results are described.