Tributary fluxes into Brush Creek 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<0555:TFIBCV>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5771996

Coulter, R L; Orgill, M; Porch, W

Measurements in a tributary to Brush Creek Valley during the September and October 1984 ASCOT campaign with laser anemometers, tethersondes, a minisodar, and smoke releases were used to calculate the contribution by tributaries to nocturnal drainage flow from the main valley. Four experimental nights with different mesoscale wind regimes were used in the study. It was found that a simple picture of mass flux proportional to drainage area is not sufficient to predict the relative contributions of drainage basins. The exposure of the slopes within the tributaries to the external wind regime was found to be a significant factor in the contribution of the upper regions of the tributary; but drainage from the well-protected lower region was found to irection than when the external wind was along the drainage direction. A circulation cell that introduces mass into the tributary system both from the main canyon flow and from the side opposite the main canyon flow is proposed to explain this effect.

• Research Organization: Center for Environmental Research, Biological, Environmental, and Medical Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois (US); Richland, Washington; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
• OSTI ID: 5771996
• 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