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Wave breaking induced surface wakes and jets observed during a bora event
Author(s) -
Jiang Qingfang,
Doyle James D.
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1029/2005gl022398
Subject(s) - breaking wave , hydraulic jump , boundary layer , mesoscale meteorology , geology , supercritical flow , flow (mathematics) , wake , geophysics , seismology , meteorology , mechanics , physics , wave propagation , climatology , optics
An observational and modeling study of a bora event that occurred during the field phase of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme is presented. Research aircraft in‐situ measurements and airborne remote‐sensing observations indicate the presence of strong low‐level wave breaking and alternating surface wakes and jets along the Croatian coastline over the Adriatic Sea. The observed features are well captured by a high‐resolution COAMPS simulation. Analysis of the observations and modeling results indicate that the long‐extending wakes above the boundary layer are induced by dissipation associated with the low‐level wave breaking, which locally tends to accelerate the boundary layer flow beneath the breaking. Farther downstream of the high peaks, a hydraulic jump occurs in the boundary layer, which creates surface wakes. Downstream of lower‐terrain (passes), the boundary layer flow stays strong, resembling supercritical flow.