Open AccessMechanisms for intensification and maintenance of numerically simulated dust devils
Author(s) -
Ohno Hiroshi,
Takemi Tetsuya
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.249
Subject(s) - vortex , convection , boundary layer , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , convective boundary layer , large eddy simulation , environmental science , mechanics , planetary boundary layer , geology , physics , turbulence
A large eddy simulation (LES) of a well‐developed convective boundary layer (CBL) under no mean wind condition was performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting model in order to investigate the mechanisms for the intensification and maintenance of dust devils. By examining intense vortices from high temporal‐frequency outputs, it was found that most of the intense vortices are intensified through the merger of multiple vortices. Moreover, such a significantly intense vortex was maintained and more enhanced by additionally merging small‐scale vortices and tilting horizontal vortices at boundaries of convective cells. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society