Understanding Thermally Driven Slope Winds: Recent Advances and Open Questions

Abstract

The paper reviews recent advances in our understanding about the dynamics of thermally driven winds over sloping terrain. Major progress from recent experiments, both in the field and in the laboratory, are outlined. Achievements from numerical modelling efforts, including both parameterized turbulence and large eddy simulation approaches, up to direct numerical simulations, are also reviewed. Finally, theoretical insights on the nature of turbulence in such winds are analyzed along with applications which benefit from progress in understanding of these flows. Open questions to be faced for further investigations are finally highlighted.