Tributary, valley and sidewall air flow interactions in a deep valley

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1989)028<0578:TVASAF>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5771973

Porch, W M; Fritz, R B; Coulter, R L; Gudiksen, P H

Field experiments measuring nocturnal tributary flows have shown complex internal structure. Variations in the flow range from short-term (8--16 min) oscillations (related to tributary/valley flow interactions) to long-term flow changes throughout the night (related to upper ridge slope and tributary sidewall cooling rate changes). The mean vertical structure in the tributary flow shows a three layer structure. Outflow winds are observed near the surface and in an elevated jet up to several hundred meters height. A flow minimum or counterflow exists at about the height of the drainage flow maximum in the main valley. Comparisons of flow volumes and variations from a single large tributary show that 5%--15% of the nocturnal flow in the main valley may be contributed through one tributary. This implies that tributaries may dominate main valley sidewall and midvalley subsidence contributions to valley drainage flows.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico (US); NOAA/WPL, Boulder, Colorado; Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
• OSTI ID: 5771973
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States) Vol. 28:7; ISSN JOAME
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLORADO
DRAINAGE
FEDERAL REGION VIII
NORTH AMERICA
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VALLEYS
WIND