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The influence of the Andes mountains on the South American low‐level flow
Author(s) -
Campetella Claudia M.,
Vera Carolina S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl015451
Subject(s) - baroclinity , zonal and meridional , geology , flow (mathematics) , climatology , hydrostatic equilibrium , zonal flow (plasma) , meridional flow , cyclone (programming language) , mechanics , physics , plasma , quantum mechanics , field programmable gate array , computer science , computer hardware , tokamak
A dry, hydrostatic, three‐dimensional primitive equation model is used to evaluate the mechanical effect of the Andes mountains on the South American low‐level flow (LLF). The model simulations reproduce the evolution of a baroclinic wave over the continent under winter and summer conditions. In both seasons as a consequence of the interaction between the basic flow and the Andes, northerly LLF was reproduced east of the Andes which resembles the main characteristics of the observed flow. Moreover, seasonal changes of cyclone activity have a significant impact on the location of maximum LLF and its alignment, which exhibits a NW‐SE orientation during winter and more meridional orientation in the warm season.