Gravity Currents in a Deep Anelastic Atmosphere

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 536-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
George H. Bryan ◽  
Richard Rotunno
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Gravity Currents ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Exchange Flow ◽  
Channel Depth ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Independent Evaluation ◽  
Energy Conserving ◽  
Anelastic Equations

Abstract This study presents analytic results for steady gravity currents in a channel using the deep anelastic equations. Results are cast in terms of a nondimensional parameter H/H0 that relates the channel depth H to a scale depth H0 (the depth at which density goes to zero in an isentropic atmosphere). The classic results based on the incompressible equations correspond to H/H0 = 0. For cold gravity currents (at the bottom of a channel), assuming energy-conserving flow, the nondimensional current depth h/H is much smaller, and nondimensional propagation speed C/(gH)1/2 is slightly smaller as H/H0 increases. For flows with energy dissipation, C/(gH)1/2 decreases as H/H0 increases, even for fixed h/H. The authors conclude that as H/H0 increases the normalized hydrostatic pressure rise in the cold pool increases near the bottom of the channel, whereas drag decreases near the top of the channel; these changes require gravity currents to propagate slower for steady flow to be maintained. From these results, the authors find that steady cold pools have a likely maximum depth of 4 km in the atmosphere (in the absence of shear). For warm gravity currents (at the top of a channel), h/H is slightly larger and C/(gH)1/2 is much larger as H/H0 increases. The authors also conduct two-dimensional numerical simulations of “lock-exchange flow” to provide an independent evaluation of the analytic results. For cold gravity currents the simulations support the analytic results. However, for warm gravity currents the simulations show unsteady behavior that cannot be captured by the analytic theory and which appears to have no analog in incompressible flow.

Using the Translation Speed and Vertical Structure of Gust Fronts to Infer Buoyancy Deficits within Thunderstorm Outflow

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (10) ◽  
pp. 3575-3594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abby Hutson ◽  
Christopher Weiss ◽  
George Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Slip Model ◽  
Translation Speed ◽  
Acceptable Error ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Thunderstorm Outflow ◽  
Gust Front

Abstract This study investigates whether the thermodynamics of supercell rear-flank outflow can be inferred from the propagation speed and vertical structure of the rear-flank gust front. To quantify the relationship between outflow thermodynamic deficit and gust front structure, CM1 is applied as a two-dimensional cold pool model to assess the vertical slope of cold pools of varying strength in different configurations of ambient shear. The model was run with both free-slip and semislip lower boundary conditions and the results were compared to observations of severe thunderstorm outflow captured by the Texas Tech University Ka-band mobile radars. Simulated cold pools in the free-slip model achieve the propagation speeds predicted by cold pool theory, while cold pool speeds in the semislip model propagate slower. Density current theory is applied to the observed cold pools and predicts the cold pool speed to within about 2 m s−1. Both the free-slip and semislip model results reveal that, in the same sheared flow, the edge of a strong cold pool is less inclined than that of a weaker cold pool. Also, a cold pool in weak ambient shear has a steeper slope than the same cold pool in stronger ambient shear. Nonlinear regressions performed on data from both models capture the proper dependence of slope on buoyancy and shear, but the free-slip model does not predict observed slopes within acceptable error, and the semislip model overpredicts the cold pool slope for all observed cases, but with uncertainty due to shear estimation.

Minimal models for precipitating turbulent convection

2013 ◽  
Vol 717 ◽  
pp. 576-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Hernandez-Duenas ◽  
Andrew J. Majda ◽  
Leslie M. Smith ◽  
Samuel N. Stechmann
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Rain Water ◽  
Moist Convection ◽  
Minimal Models ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Anelastic Equations ◽  
Water Substance ◽  
Organized Convection

AbstractSimulations of precipitating convection would typically use a non-Boussinesq dynamical core such as the anelastic equations, and would incorporate water substance in all of its phases: vapour, liquid and ice. Furthermore, the liquid water phase would be separated into cloud water (small droplets suspended in air) and rain water (larger droplets that fall). Depending on environmental conditions, the moist convection may organize itself on multiple length and time scales. Here we investigate the question, what is the minimal representation of water substance and dynamics that still reproduces the basic regimes of turbulent convective organization? The simplified models investigated here use a Boussinesq atmosphere with bulk cloud physics involving equations for water vapour and rain water only. As a first test of the minimal models, we investigate organization or lack thereof on relatively small length scales of approximately 100 km and time scales of a few days. It is demonstrated that the minimal models produce either unorganized (‘scattered’) or organized convection in appropriate environmental conditions, depending on the environmental wind shear. For the case of organized convection, the models qualitatively capture features of propagating squall lines that are observed in nature and in more comprehensive cloud resolving models, such as tilted rain water profiles, low-altitude cold pools and propagation speed corresponding to the maximum of the horizontally averaged, horizontal velocity.

A note on the propagation speed of a weakly dissipative gravity current

2007 ◽  
Vol 574 ◽  
pp. 393-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
EUGENY V. ERMANYUK ◽  
NIKOLAI V. GAVRILOV
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Current ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Front Propagation ◽  
Gravity Currents ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Rigid Boundary ◽  
Inviscid Flows ◽  
First Case ◽  
Energy Conserving ◽  
A Minor

This paper presents an experimental study on the propagation speed of gravity currents at moderate values of a gravity Reynolds number. Two cases are considered: gravity currents propagating along a rigid boundary and intrusive gravity currents. For the first case, a semi-empirical formula for the front propagation speed derived from simple energy arguments is shown to capture well the effect of flow deceleration because of viscous dissipation. In the second case, the propagation speed is shown to agree with the one predicted for energy-conserving virtually inviscid flows (Shin, Dalziel & Linden, J. Fluid Mech. vol. 521, 2004, p. 1), which implies that the losses due to vorticity generation and mixing at the liquid–liquid interface play only a minor role in the total balance of energy.

On the dynamics of gravity currents in a channel

1994 ◽  
Vol 269 ◽  
pp. 169-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph B. Klemp ◽  
Richard Rotunno ◽  
William C. Skamarock
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Good Description ◽  
Water Solution ◽  
Gravity Current ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Gravity Currents ◽  
Force Balance ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Two Dimensional

We attempt to clarify the factors that regulate the propagation and structure of gravity currents through evaluation of idealized theoretical models along with two-dimensional numerical model simulations. In particular, we seek to reconcile research based on hydraulic theory for gravity currents evolving from a known initial state with analyses of gravity currents that are assumed to be at steady state, and to compare these approaches with both numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. The time-dependent shallow-water solution for a gravity current propagating in a channel of finite depth reveals that the flow must remain subcritical behind the leading edge of the current (in a framework relative to the head). This constraint requires that hf/d ≤ 0.347, where hf is the height of the front and d is the channel depth. Thus, in the lock-exchange problem, inviscid solutions corresponding to hf/d = 0.5 are unphysical, and the actual currents have depth ratios of less than one half near their leading edge and require dissipation or are not steady. We evaluate the relevance of Benjamin's (1968) well-known formula for the propagation of steady gravity currents and clarify discrepancies with other theoretical and observed results. From two-dimensional simulations with a frictionless lower surface, we find that Benjamin's idealized flow-force balance provides a good description of the gravity-current propagation. Including surface friction reduces the propagation speed because it produces dissipation within the cold pool. Although shallow-water theory over-estimates the propagation speed of the leading edge of cold fluid in the ‘dam-break’ problem, this discrepancy appears to arise from the lack of mixing across the current interface rather than from deficiencies in Benjamin's front condition. If an opposing flow restricts the propagation of a gravity current away from its source, we show that the propagation of the current relative to the free stream may be faster than predicted by Benjamin's formula. However, in these situations the front propagation remains dependent upon the specific source conditions and cannot be generalized.

Impact of Graupel Parameterization Schemes on Idealized Bow Echo Simulations

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 1241-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca D. Adams-Selin ◽  
Susan C. van den Heever ◽  
Richard H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Complete Removal ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Pressure Gradients ◽  
Cooling Rates ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Bow Echo ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Microphysical Processes

Abstract The effect of changes in microphysical cooling rates on bow echo development and longevity are examined through changes to graupel parameterization in the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW-WRF). Multiple simulations are performed that test the sensitivity to different graupel size distributions as well as the complete removal of graupel. It is found that size distributions with larger and denser, but fewer, graupel hydrometeors result in a weaker cold pool due to reduced microphysical cooling rates. This yields weaker midlevel (3–6 km) buoyancy and pressure perturbations, a later onset of more elevated rear inflow, and a weaker convective updraft. The convective updraft is also slower to tilt rearward, and thus bowing occurs later. Graupel size distributions with more numerous, smaller, and lighter hydrometeors result in larger microphysical cooling rates, stronger cold pools, more intense midlevel buoyancy and pressure gradients, and earlier onset of surface-based rear inflow; these systems develop bowing segments earlier. A sensitivity test with fast-falling but small graupel hydrometeors revealed that small mean size and slow fall speed both contribute to the strong cooling rates. Simulations entirely without graupel are initially weaker, because of limited contributions from cooling by melting of the slowly falling snow. However, over the next hour increased rates of melting snow result in an increasingly more intense system with new bowing. Results of the study indicate that the development of a bow echo is highly sensitive to microphysical processes, which presents a challenge to the prediction of these severe weather phenomena.

Cold Pools and Their Influence on the Tropical Marine Boundary Layer

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 1149-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon P. de Szoeke ◽  
Eric D. Skyllingstad ◽  
Paquita Zuidema ◽  
Arunchandra S. Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Flux ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Central Indian Ocean

Abstract Cold pools dominate the surface temperature variability observed over the central Indian Ocean (0°, 80°E) for 2 months of research cruise observations in the Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) experiment in October–December 2011. Cold pool fronts are identified by a rapid drop of temperature. Air in cold pools is slightly drier than the boundary layer (BL). Consistent with previous studies, cold pools attain wet-bulb potential temperatures representative of saturated downdrafts originating from the lower midtroposphere. Wind and surface fluxes increase, and rain is most likely within the ~20-min cold pool front. Greatest integrated water vapor and liquid follow the front. Temperature and velocity fluctuations shorter than 6 min achieve 90% of the surface latent and sensible heat flux in cold pools. The temperature of the cold pools recovers in about 20 min, chiefly by mixing at the top of the shallow cold wake layer, rather than by surface flux. Analysis of conserved variables shows mean BL air is composed of 51% air entrained from the BL top (800 m), 22% saturated downdrafts, and 27% air at equilibrium with the ocean surface. The number of cold pools, and their contribution to the BL heat and moisture, nearly doubles in the convectively active phase compared to the suppressed phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation.

scholarly journals Gravity currents and internal waves in a stratified fluid

2008 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. 327-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN L. WHITE ◽  
KARL R. HELFRICH
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Wave Speed ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Gravity Current ◽  
Gravity Currents ◽  
Stratified Fluid ◽  
Front Speed ◽  
Long Wave ◽  
Conjugate State ◽  
Energy Conserving

A steady theory is presented for gravity currents propagating with constant speed into a stratified fluid with a general density profile. Solution curves for front speed versus height have an energy-conserving upper bound (the conjugate state) and a lower bound marked by the onset of upstream influence. The conjugate state is the largest-amplitude nonlinear internal wave supported by the ambient stratification, and in the limit of weak stratification approaches Benjamin's energy-conserving gravity current solution. When the front speed becomes critical with respect to linear long waves generated above the current, steady solutions cannot be calculated, implying upstream influence. For non-uniform stratification, the critical long-wave speed exceeds the ambient long-wave speed, and the critical-Froude-number condition appropriate for uniform stratification must be generalized. The theoretical results demonstrate a clear connection between internal waves and gravity currents. The steady theory is also compared with non-hydrostatic numerical solutions of the full lock release initial-value problem. Some solutions resemble classic gravity currents with no upstream disturbance, but others show long internal waves propagating ahead of the gravity current. Wave generation generally occurs when the stratification and current speed are such that the steady gravity current theory fails. Thus the steady theory is consistent with the occurrence of either wave-generating or steady gravity solutions to the dam-break problem. When the available potential energy of the dam is large enough, the numerical simulations approach the energy-conserving conjugate state. Existing laboratory experiments for intrusions and gravity currents produced by full-depth lock exchange flows over a range of stratification profiles show excellent agreement with the conjugate state solutions.

Peering into the internal structure of cold pools and their interactions with a dense observational network

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Hohenegger ◽  
Jaemyeong Seo ◽  
Hannes Nevermann ◽  
Bastian Kirsch ◽  
Nima Shokri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Soil Sensors ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Surface Network ◽  
Shed Light

<p>Melting and evaporation of hydrometeors in and below convective clouds generates cold, dense air that falls through the atmospheric column and spreads at the surface like a density current, the cold pool. In modelling studies, the importance of cold pools in controlling the lifecycle of convection has often been emphasized, being through their organization of the cloud field or through their sheer deepening of the convection. Larger, longer-lived cold pools benefit convection, but little is actually known on the size and internal structure of cold pools from observations as the majority of cold pools are too small to be captured by the operational surface network.  One aim of the field campaign FESSTVaL was to peer into the internal structure of cold pools and their interactions with the underlying land surface by deploying a dense network of surface observations. This network consisted of 80 self-designed cold pool loggers, 19 weather stations and 83 soil sensors deployed in an area of 15 km around Lindenberg. FESSTVaL took place from 17 May to 27 August 2021.</p> <p>In principle, cold pool characteristics are affected both by the atmospheric state, which fuels cold pools through melting and evaporation of hydrometeors, and the land surface, which acts to destroy cold pools through friction and warming by surface fluxes. In this talk, the measurements collected during FESSTVaL will be used to shed light on these interactions.  We are particularly interested to assess how homogeneous the internal structure of cold pools is and whether heterogeneities of the land surface imprint themselves on this internal structure. The results will be compared to available model simulations.</p>

FESST@HH 2020: Ein dichtes Messnetz als Lupe für die Struktur konvektiver Cold Pools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastian Kirsch ◽  
Cathy Hohenegger ◽  
Daniel Klocke ◽  
Felix Ament
Keyword(s):  
Cold Pool ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
O 10

<p>Cold Pools sind mesoskalige Gebiete kalter und dichter Luftmassen, die durch Verdunstung von Hydrometeoren unterhalb regnender Wolken entstehen. Während die kalte Luft absinkt und sich als Dichteströmung an der Erdoberfläche ausbreitet, löst sie durch Hebung an ihrer Vorderseite häufig neue Konvektion aus oder forciert den Übergang von flacher zu tiefer Konvektion. Viele modellbasierte Arbeiten belegen die Bedeutung von Cold Pools für die Organisation von Konvektion. Operationelle Messnetze mit einer typischen Maschenweite von 25 km hingegen sind blind für sub-mesoskalige (O(100) m — O(10) km) Prozesse wie Cold Pools und erlauben somit weder die Untersuchung noch die Validierung ihrer raum-zeitlichen Struktur.</p> <p>Im Rahmen der Messkampagne FESST@HH wurde von Juni bis August 2020 im Großraum Hamburg (50 km × 35 km) ein dichtes Netz bestehend aus 103 meteorologischen Messstationen betrieben. Das Rückgrat des Messnetzes bildeten 82 eigens für diesen Zweck entwickelte und gebaute APOLLO-Stationen (Autonomous cold POoL LOgger), die Lufttemperatur und -druck mit trägheitsarmen Sensoren in sekündlicher Auflösung messen. Das Netzwerk wurde mit 21 Wetterstationen ergänzt, die zusätzlich Luftfeuchte, Windgeschwindigkeit und Niederschlag in 10-sekündiger Auflösung aufzeichnen und auf kommerziellen Sensoren basieren. Ein besonderes Merkmal von FESST@HH ist, dass die Durchführung der Kampagne während der COVID19-Pandemie nur durch eine große Zahl Freiwilliger ermöglicht wurde, die kurzfristig Messstandorte bereitgestellt und die Betreuung der Instrumente unterstützt haben.</p> <p>Wir präsentieren die neuartigen Messinstrumente und den Datensatz der FESST@HH-Kampagne (DOI: 10.25592/UHHFDM.8966). Ein Fallbeispiel zeigt, dass das dichte Messnetz in der Lage ist sowohl die horizontale Heterogenität des Temperaturfeldes innerhalb eines Cold Pools als auch seine Größe und Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit während verschiedener Phasen des Lebenszyklus abzubilden. Darüber hinaus erlauben die Messungen einen neuen Blick auf weitere Quellen sub-mesoskaliger Variabilität wie die nächtliche städtische Wärmeinsel und die Variation turbulenter Temperaturfluktuationen als Ausdruck charakteristischer Standorteigenschaften.</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of Forecasts of a Convectively Generated Bore Using an Intensively Observed Case Study from PECAN

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (9) ◽  
pp. 3097-3122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Johnson ◽  
Xuguang Wang ◽  
Kevin R. Haghi ◽  
David B. Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Turbulent Mixing ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Convection Model

Abstract This paper presents a case study from an intensive observing period (IOP) during the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field experiment that was focused on a bore generated by nocturnal convection. Observations from PECAN IOP 25 on 11 July 2015 are used to evaluate the performance of high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting Model forecasts, initialized using the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI)-based ensemble Kalman filter. The focus is on understanding model errors and sensitivities in order to guide forecast improvements for bores associated with nocturnal convection. Model simulations of the bore amplitude are compared against eight retrieved vertical cross sections through the bore during the IOP. Sensitivities of forecasts to microphysics and planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterizations are also investigated. Forecasts initialized before the bore pulls away from the convection show a more realistic bore than forecasts initialized later from analyses of the bore itself, in part due to the smoothing of the existing bore in the ensemble mean. Experiments show that the different microphysics schemes impact the quality of the simulations with unrealistically weak cold pools and bores with the Thompson and Morrison microphysics schemes, cold pools too strong with the WDM6 and more accurate with the WSM6 schemes. Most PBL schemes produced a realistic bore response to the cold pool, with the exception of the Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino (MYNN) scheme, which creates too much turbulent mixing atop the bore. A new method of objectively estimating the depth of the near-surface stable layer corresponding to a simple two-layer model is also introduced, and the impacts of turbulent mixing on this estimate are discussed.

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