Premium
Recirculation over complex terrain
Author(s) -
Kutter Eric,
Yi Chuixiang,
Hendrey George,
Liu Heping,
Eaton Timothy,
NiMeister Wenge
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2016jd026409
Subject(s) - terrain , eddy covariance , trace gas , eddy , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , flux (metallurgy) , geology , biosphere , climatology , meteorology , ecosystem , geography , turbulence , ecology , materials science , cartography , metallurgy , biology
This study generated eddy covariance data to investigate atmospheric dynamics leeward of a small, forested hillside in upstate New York. The causes and effects of recirculation eddies were examined to support the larger goal of improving measurement of the exchange of energy, moisture, and trace gases between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere over complex terrain. Sensors operated at five different altitudes on two separate towers—one at the top of the hill and one down the slope to the east—for approximately 8 weeks in the spring of 2013. During the experiment, the vertical potential temperature gradient was found to be the primary factor for determining whether winds interacting with the terrain features caused a recirculating eddy leeward of the hill. The study found evidence that the recirculation influenced carbon dioxide flux and caused the air column to be vertically well mixed.