Effects of shear and sharp gradients in static stability on two-dimensional flow over an isolated mountain ridge

Abstract

¶We have investigated the effects of shear and sharp gradients in static stability and demonstrated how a mountain wave and its associated surface winds can be strongly influenced. Linear theory for two-dimensional, nonrotating stratified flow over an isolated mountain ridge with positive shear and constant static stability shows that the horizontal wind speeds on both the lee and upslope surfaces are suppressed by positive shear. The critical F(=U/Nh where U is the basic wind speed, N the Brunt-Vaisala frequency, and h the mountain height) for the occurrence of wave breaking decreases when the strength of the positive shear increases, while the location for the wave-induced critical level is higher in cases with larger positive shear. The linear theory is then verified by a series of systematic nonlinear numerical experiments. Four different flow regimes are found for positive shear flow over a two-dimensional mountain. The values of critical F which separate the flow regimes are lower when the strength of the positive shear is larger. The location of stagnation aloft from numerical simulations is found to be quite consistent with those predicted by linear theory.