Open AccessPhysical modelling of baroclinic development in the lee of the Alps
Author(s) -
A. Longhetto,
L. Briatore,
G. Chabert D'Hières,
Henri Didelle,
Enrico Ferrero,
C. Giraud
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
annals of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 2037-416X
pISSN - 1593-5213
DOI - 10.4401/ag-3861
Subject(s) - cyclogenesis , baroclinity , blocking (statistics) , forcing (mathematics) , climatology , geology , cyclone (programming language) , obstacle , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , geography , archaeology , field programmable gate array , computer science , computer hardware , statistics , mathematics
When baroclinic development is triggered by an obstacle, like an extended mountain range, the so-called lee, or secondary cyclogenesis can develop. The presence of the obstacle exerts a blocking effect on the lower layers of the impinging airflow, forcing them to go round its borders and reach the lee region with a delay. Blocking and delay are both responsible for the initial pressure decrease downwind of the mountain and for the subsequent proper downstream baroclinic development. According to this rather simple scheme, a cyclogenesis episode in the lee of the Alps was simulated in a hydraulic turntable. The results of these experiments showed a good agreement, both from a qualitative and quantitative point of view, with the analysis of an episode of lee cyclogenesis coupled to a cold outbreak in the Mediterranean, which actually occured in Southern Europe downstream of the Alps