Tributary contribution to and interactions with air flow in a deep valley

Conference · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6176967

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

This paper presents data which supports the hypothesis that nocturnal air subsidence is not only concentrated on the valley sides but mainly over the tributary walls. Smoke releases and tethersoude measurements revealed a three-layer structure to the flow exiting the tributary during nocturnal drainage conditions. First, there is a layer about 40 m deep just above the ground with a flow component out of the tributary with speeds of 1-3 m/s. The next higher layer is usually between 40 to 60 m with occasional excursions above 100 m and represents a region of either very low flow speeds (< 0.3 m/s) or actual backing flow into the tributary. The height of this counter flow layer appears to correspond with the projected height of the region of maximum flow speeds down the Brush Creek Valley. The third layer lies above the other two and extends to heights of 200 to 300 m. This layer contains relatively light flow (0.3 to 1.5 m/s) out of the tributary, but because of the height of the layer and much greater associated tributary valley cross sectional area, most of the tributary flow comes from this layer.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (USA). Wave Propagation Lab.; Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6176967
• Report Number(s): UCRL-96092; CONF-870864-8; ON: DE87010870
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPLEX TERRAIN
DISTRIBUTION
DRAINAGE
FLOW RATE
NOCTURNAL VARIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
VARIATIONS
WIND