High-resolution simulations of downslope flow over complex terrain using WRF-IBM

Journal Article · Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Proposed Journal Article, unpublished

OSTI ID:1569186

Arthur, Robert S. ^[1]; Lundquist, Katherine A. ^[2]; Mirocha, Jeffrey D. ^[2]; Hoch, Sebastian W. ^[3]; Chow, Fotini K. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
3. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

In this work, the onset and evolution of downslope flows during the evening transition on a mountain slope is examined using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The case study is focused on Granite Mountain, Utah, which was the site of the Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations (MATERHORN) project. Here, due to the steep topography of Granite Mountain, an immersed boundary method (IBM) is employed. IBM was implemented into the WRF model by Lundquist et al (2010, 2012) and removes the restrictions on terrain slope that are associated with WRF’s traditional terrain following vertical coordinate system.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1569186
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-704017; 838264
• Journal Information: Proposed Journal Article, unpublished, Vol. 2016; ISSN 9999-9999
• Publisher: See Research Organization
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
17 WIND ENERGY
Downslope flows
Thermally-driven flows
High-resolution simulations
Weather Research and Forecasting Model
Immersed boundary method