Downslope Flow Research Articles

Roles of the Topographically-Affected Boundary Layer Low-Level Jet in the Moisture Transport Process of Nocturnal Rainstorms in Mountainous Areas around the Western Sichuan Basin

Fifteen cases were selected from May to September 2010 to 2021 to study the moisture transport of nocturnal rainstorms in mountainous areas around the western Sichuan Basin (western SCB). Nocturnal rainstorms mainly occur along mountains in southwestern SCB, from 22 to 04 LST, peaking at 00 LST. The four following moisture transport paths (proportions) were obtained using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT): the local path from southeastern SCB (51.9%), the southerly path from the South China Sea (35.1%), the northwestern path from western Tibetan Plateau (TP) (6.6%), and the easterly path from the East China Sea (6.4%). The persistent southwest monsoon is the large-scale circulation for nocturnal rainstorms in western SCB while the boundary layer low-level jet (BLJ) over southeastern SCB plays a key role in diurnal variations of moisture transport in western SCB. To discuss the roles of the topographically-affected BLJ in moisture transport, the wind field is decomposed into creeping flows (flows over mountains) and circumfluence flows (flows around mountains). At 22 LST, ageostrophic creeping flows turn southeast due to the clockwise rotation caused by inertial oscillations of the BLJ, transporting moisture directly into western SCB and converging because of the blocking effect of TP. Meanwhile, the opposite geostrophic circumfluence flows and ageostrophic circumfluence flows meet and accumulate at the “trumpet” topography in western SCB, leading to moisture convergence, and the moisture budget peaks at 22 LST, 2 h earlier than the rainstorm peak. The creeping flows force upward motions over western SCB, and the conflict between upward warm–moist flows and cold–dry downslope flows from TP triggers convection, which significantly strengthens the vertical velocity. The results confirm the existence of the BLJ over southeastern SCB both in the Eulerian and Lagrangian viewpoints and reveal the roles of the topographically-affected BLJ in the moisture transport process of nocturnal rainstorms in western SCB.

Spatial–Temporal Analysis of a Summer Heat Wave Associated with Downslope Flows in Southern Brazil: Implications in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

This study investigates a summer heat wave (HW) associated with downslope winds (DWs) affecting the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The temporal evolution of both phenomena is analyzed in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using a combination of micrometeorological and rawinsonde data. For spatial characterization, ERA-5 reanalysis data are used. The HW covered a large area in southern Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The main features of the HW were locally enhanced in the central region of RS by the development of DWs. The establishment of DWs near the surface depends on the dynamics of the ABL and local topographic features. The results showed that DWs that occurred during the HW contributed to the extreme temperatures and were associated with strong northerly winds, low relative humidity, and a drop in the dew points. Together, these extreme events influenced the turbulent and mean flow patterns of the ABL. The increase in turbulent activity associated with the warming of the ABL favored enhanced growth of morning ABL, while at night the simultaneous effects of radiative and turbulence cooling inhibited the formation of a strong stable ABL. The analysis highlights the complex interplay of synoptic and local factors associated with DWs and HW.

Diurnal Variation of Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Over Southern Hainan Island, China: The Role of Boundary Layer Inertial Oscillations Over Indochina Peninsula

AbstractIn June after the onset of the East Asian summer monsoon season, rainfall on the south side of Hainan Island (HNI) of China exhibits a trimodal pattern with an unusual peak near noon. A typical case of 20 June 2017 is chosen to analyze the mechanisms through a convection‐permitting simulation together with rainfall observations. Clockwise rotation in low‐level winds is found at and off the coast of south HNI, leading to maximum onshore southwesterly winds in the late morning that is closely linked to the diurnal variation of rainfall. The offshore diurnal variations of low‐level winds are tracked upstream and attributed to boundary layer inertial oscillations over the inland plain of Indochina Peninsula. In addition, a short wide gap comprised mostly of hills lower than 700 m is located across the higher Annamite Range along the east coast of the Peninsula, right upstream of HNI. Nocturnal boundary layer low‐level jet (LLJ) forming over the plain passes through the gap with significant acceleration due to gap channeling and downslope flow effects, reaching peak intensity off the Peninsula coast at around 09 local standard time (LST). The enhanced LLJ propagates downstream towards HNI and impinges on the mountains at around 12 LST when rainfall reaches peak there. As the inertial‐oscillation‐indued perturbation winds approaching the Island weaken and eventually reverse direction, lifting weakens and low‐level stability increases as descending motion develops offshore. Rainfall on the southern Island therefore dissipates in late afternoon.

Self organization of granular flow by basal friction variation: Natural jump, moving bore, and flying avalanche

AbstractThe article discusses the response of rapid granular downslope flow to an abrupt change in basal friction. Although granular discharge from silo and hoppers has received considerable attention in the past, the flow behavior for an abrupt change in basal friction is hitherto unexplored. In the present study, the channel floor comprises of a smooth surface (bed friction angle—δS) and a rough surface (bed friction angle—δR) such that the angle of repose of the granular material (θr) lies between δS and δR and the flow features are observed as the channel inclination (θ) is varied from ≈δS to >δR. Experiments are performed in two channels with different extent of rough surface for two grain sizes with the same angle of repose and different inlet depth of granular flow. The visualization studies reveal a rich variety of flow features namely moving bore, rapid granular flow, flying avalanche and granular jump. Natural granular jump formed by mere frictional dissipation without any external forcing has not been reported earlier. The variety of flow features primarily results from the interplay of downslope motion of variable depth, collision‐driven piling of grains, and slope shaving avalanches. The observed flow phenomena have been satisfactorily analyzed by the well‐known depth‐averaged avalanche flow equations under conditions of incompressible granular flow.

Morphological changes currently occurring in sand-filled gully channels on Mars: Implications for the role of substrates inside channels

Long-term monitoring of dune/non-dune gullies has substantiated extensive and diversified morphological changes whose timing correlates with the time of removal of CO2 frost, thereby implying seasonal control on the active processes. We present evidence for present-day changes in sand-filled gully channels consistent with ripples. These channels are ubiquitous in the mid-latitudes and found in gullies formed over a variety of substrates on crater walls. We investigated 1483 gullied craters having coverage of at least two High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images between 30°S and 75°S and identified 98 craters (6.6% of the total) with sand-filled gully channels. Among these 98 craters, sand-filled gully channels in 25 craters (25.5% of the total) exhibit morphological changes indicative of avulsion, narrow channel incision, formation of channels with potential terminal pits, channel widening and extension, downslope flow of mobilized sand inside channels, dark flows and rapid boulder movement inside channels, and local sand rearranging and erasing of channels. Investigation of the sequence of events revealed CO2 frost inside the sand-filled gully channels in the image acquired during winter and prior to the image in which recent changes have been observed. This suggests a connection with the sublimating frost inside the channels and a seasonal control that subsequently produces extensive changes in the sand-filled gully channels during defrosting seasons in approximately a Mars year. Comparison of changes on both sand-filled gully channels and dune gully channels substantiates that the currently active processes have similar effects on the loose, unconsolidated substrate in both the gully types. For example, CO2 frost processes are able to erode both sand-filled gully channels and dune gully channels to form linear channels with terminal pits. In contrast, we have not found similar evidence of linear channels with terminal pits on bedrock and/or LDM substrate on the crater wall suggesting that the bedrock and LDM substrate may not be able to be eroded by CO2 frost processes in a manner similar to the loose, unconsolidated substrate in sand-filled gully channels investigated in this study. Together, the results signify that the sand-filled gully channels represent a significant component of present-day modification of gully channels on Mars.

Is Portugal Starting to Burn All Year Long? The Transboundary Fire in January 2022

Changes in the large fire seasons induced by climate variability may have implications in several sectors of modern society. This communication aims to investigate possible changes in the behaviour of active fires during the wintertime and document an event that occurred in the transboundary mountainous region in the north-western Iberian Peninsula between Portugal and Spain on 28 January 2022. The VIIRS active fire data, a satellite product, were analysed for the period between December 2012 and February 2022. The Meso-NH model was used to explore the atmospheric conditions during the event that burned almost 2400 ha. It was configured in a single domain with a horizontal resolution of 1500 m (300 × 300 grid points). The study highlights an increase in fire occurrence during the winter of 2021/22 and indicates that climate variability may create atmospheric conditions propitious for fire development even during the winter. The mild temperatures, dry air, and easterly flow affecting northern Portugal played an important role in the fire that occurred on 28 January 2022. Local orographic effects associated with downslope flow favoured fire propagation. Given the lack of knowledge about large winter fires, this study can be a starting point for future research on this subject.

Periodic boundary layer separation and lateral intrusions observed above a sloping lakebed

AbstractLateral intrusions flowing from the boundaries of lakes and oceans might influence basin‐scale distributions of heat, chemical solutes, sediments, and organisms. Here, observations of numerous intrusions from multiple locations in a small lake were used to examine the relation of intrusions to a lakewide internal seiche, and to estimate mean exchange between sloping bottom boundary layers (BBLs) and the lake interior. BBL waters were observed periodically separating from the bed and flowing laterally offshore. Boundary layer separation was initiated where strong downslope flows encountered upslope‐propagating temperature fronts. These separation events propagated upslope, coherent with the vertically propagating internal seiche, resembling previously reported cases of upslope‐propagating internal bores. Following separation, jets flowed offshore immediately above temperature fronts, transporting boundary layer water at least 61 m into the interior. Jet propagation could be traced upwards, from the bed at 9.4 m depth to the base of the surface mixed layer. Mean offshore transport was most intense within the metalimnion (4–7 m depth). Intruding intermediate‐temperature thermocline water was likely supplied both by river inputs and by boundary mixing of cold and warm waters. These findings suggest that periodic jets, resulting from seiche‐induced boundary layer separation, transported significant quantities of water from the boundary layer toward the stratified lake interior, with possible implications for distributions of sediments, solutes, and organisms.

Hg in the hydrothermal fluids and gases in Baia di Levante, Vulcano, Italy

The importance of fluid and gaseous mercury (Hg) emissions from hydrothermal systems in the shallow, coastal ocean is poorly constrained. However, there are indicators that they could be a significant natural Hg source. We evaluated the hydrothermal Hg emissions around Vulcano Island, Aeolian Arc, Italy, which is host to a marine shallow-water hydrothermal system (MSWHS) in Baia di Levante. Fluids were collected with porewater probes, and gases were collected into Tedlar© bags. Total Hg (THg) concentrations in the hydrothermal fluids ranged from 2.9 to 2888 pM. The concentrations of volatile Hg were below 8 pM and trended positively with increasing temperature. Monomethyl Hg (MMHg) was not detected. Total Hg in the gases ranged from 0.03 to 1.82 μmol/m3.High concentrations of THg were associated with low Cl-concentrations, low pH-values, and high K/Cl and Mg/Cl ratios. Concentrations of THg in the hydrothermal fluids resulted from mixing between meteoric water, seawater, condensed fumarolic vapor, and a deep hydrothermal fluid. However, not all low-Cl fluids were high THg samples. Samples taken along the coast of the La Fossa crater contained substantially less THg (2.9 to 29.4 pM), despite similar hydrothermal indicators as those in the Baia di Levante samples. These data support subsurface circulation models, which discuss the downslope flow of condensed La Fossa crater gases to the coast. In the hydrothermally active area of Baia di Levante, concentrations of THg were elevated relative to background surface seawater, ranging from 40 to 5110 pM. In comparison, the remainder of the bay ranged from 0.8 to 2.4 pM.The flux of Hg to the atmosphere from surface waters was calculated through dissolved Hg concentrations. The flux at each sampled site ranged from 0 to 19.6 pmol/m2/hr. The highest flux rates were determined for those areas with visible hydrothermal activity, particularly those with high gaseous emission rates. Surface water concentrations declined rapidly away from point sources, indicating atmospheric emission, dilution through mixing, or scavenging and sedimentation. In hydrothermally active areas, Baia di Levante sediments contained THg concentrations of 2.42 nmol/g and 49.52 nmol/g, which were significantly above background (0.03 nmol/g).The largest gaseous point source, Bambino, released >2 L of gas per second. Although, Hg concentrations in the gas were low (113 to 122 nmol/m3) relative to other measured point sources near the beach (1768 to 1817 nmol/m3), due to the volume of discharge, surface water concentrations were elevated (131 pM).The Hg present in the hydrothermal system of Vulcano contributes Hg to the atmosphere and local seawater as a natural source.

Hydro-conditioning: Advanced approaches for cost-effective water quality management in agricultural watersheds

Accurate simulation of landscape hydrological connectivity is pivotal for planning practices required for treating agricultural farm pollution. This study assesses the role of an advanced geospatial approach, namely, ‘hydro-conditioning’ employed for modifying Digital Elevation Models, termed hDEMs to replicate landscape hydrology by simulating continuous downslope flow through drainage structures such as bridges and culverts. The capabilities of manual and automated hDEMs in delineating optimal locations and water treatment potential of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in a typical agricultural watershed were evaluated. Parallel processing of both hDEMs revealed that ‘ground truthing’ plays a critical role in the accurate placement of breach lines for allowing water movement through digitally elevated surfaces. Outcomes guide the practitioners in selecting appropriate hDEM (manual or automated) depending on the complexity of modeled hydrological pathways, which is essential for planning BMPs in a cost-effective manner at different spatial scales. Modeling results show that hDEMs greatly influence hydrological connectivity, catchment boundaries, BMP locations, treatment capacities, and related costs. The accuracy of hDEMs was verified using a robust sub-basin scale validation approach. The study recommends a hybrid approach for utilizing the strengths of both, automated and manual hDEMs for efficient agricultural farm pollution in an economical manner.

Katabatic and convective processes drive two preferred peaks in the precipitation diurnal cycle over the Central Himalaya

AbstractThe diurnal cycle of precipitation over the Central Himalaya is governed by a complex interaction between the diurnal cycle of tropical convection and local orographic flow. Understanding this interaction is crucial for model evaluation, where the simulation of such processes is highly sensitive to model resolution and choice of parametrisation schemes. In this study, the mean diurnal cycle is computed using gridded satellite data–Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) (IMERG) data and is shown to be bimodal, with one peak in the late afternoon (1700 India Standard Time (IST)) and a stronger one in the early morning (0200 IST). This structure is an artefact of compositing, as individual days are associated with single peaks. The late‐afternoon “convective” peak is shown to be linked to the diurnal cycle of tropical convection, whereas the nocturnal “katabatic” peak is shown to be triggered by nocturnal downslope flow converging with the background monsoon circulation. As such, the katabatic peak is strongly favoured by an active monsoon trough, which provides greater southeasterly moisture flux to the foothills, resulting in increased low‐level moisture flux convergence upon interaction with the katabatic northerlies. When the trough is less active, precipitation is brought to the region by mesoscale convective systems, ranging in scale from tens to thousands of kilometres, resulting in convective peaks. We hypothesise that these convective afternoon peaks are enhanced by anabatic flow. It is shown that the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation does not play a significant role in modulating either the timing or the amplitude of the diurnal cycle; however, low‐pressure systems do: either by intensifying the trough (and hence the katabatic peak), or, when further north, by providing deep convection (hence supporting the convective peak). Two reanalyses and a separate 17‐km model with parametrised convection capture both peaks, but overestimate the magnitude of the convective peak and underestimate the magnitude of the katabatic peak.

Bottom boundary layer mixing processes across internal seiche cycles: Dominance of downslope flows

AbstractIn a stratified lake, where an internal seiche maintained an oscillating bottom boundary layer (BBL), processes including strain‐induced periodic stratification (SIPS), a downslope mean flow, and upslope‐propagating internal waves controlled fluctuating BBL mixing rates. To investigate these processes, high‐resolution temperature and velocity profiles were measured within 2 m of the sloping bed, through more than 100 cycles of upslope and downslope flows. The associated seiche‐induced velocity reversals coincided with the arrival of upslope‐propagating cold fronts. Although fronts are sometimes associated with internal wave breaking, in this lake the measured frontal slopes were small and breaking did not occur. When fronts were not propagating past instruments, near‐bed stratification was consistent with SIPS, being intensified by downslope flows and reduced by upslope flows. Owing to a downslope near‐bed mean flow, which was previously shown to cancel an upslope internal‐wave Stokes drift, peak downslope velocities regularly exceeded peak upslope velocities. Given these strong downslope velocities, turbulent dissipation rates were most intense during downslope phases. Therefore, during downslope flow, creation of stratification by SIPS coincided with elevated dissipation, creating conditions for effective mixing. Correspondingly, two simple parameterizations for mixing efficiency suggest that most of the total near‐bed buoyancy flux (≥ 82%), and most of the irreversible flux (87%), occurred during the downslope‐flow phase of internal seiche cycles. The observed mechanism for dominant mixing during downslope flow has potential to act in other environments where internal waves propagate up sloping beds.

Flushing the Lake Littoral Region: The Interaction of Differential Cooling and Mild Winds

AbstractThe interaction of a uniform cooling rate at the lake surface with sloping bathymetry efficiently drives cross‐shore water exchanges between the shallow littoral and deep interior regions. The faster cooling rate of the shallows results in the formation of density‐driven currents, known as thermal siphons, that flow downslope until they intrude horizontally at the base of the surface mixed layer. Existing parameterizations of the resulting buoyancy‐driven cross‐shore transport assume calm wind conditions, which are rarely observed in lakes and thereby restrict their applicability. Here, we examine how moderate winds (≲5 m s−1) affect this convective cross‐shore transport. We derive simple analytical solutions that we further test against realistic three‐dimensional numerical hydrodynamic simulations of an enclosed stratified basin subject to uniform and steady surface cooling rate and cross‐shore winds. We show cross‐shore winds modify the convective circulation, stopping or even reversing it in the upwind littoral region and enhancing the cross‐shore exchange in the downwind region. The analytical parameterization satisfactorily predicted the magnitude of the simulated offshore unit‐width discharges in the upwind and downwind littoral regions. Our scaling expands the previous formulation to a regime where both wind and buoyancy forces drive cross‐shore discharges of similar magnitude. This range is defined by the non‐dimensional Monin‐Obukhov length scale, χMO: 0.1 ≲ χMO ≲ 0.5. The information needed to evaluate the scaling formula can be readily obtained from a traditional set of in situ observations.

An Extreme High Temperature Event in Coastal East Antarctica Associated With an Atmospheric River and Record Summer Downslope Winds

AbstractHigh surface temperatures are important in Antarctica because of their role in ice melt and sea level rise. We investigate a high temperature event in December 1989 that gave record temperatures in coastal East Antarctica between 60° and 100°E. The high temperatures were associated with a pool of warm lower tropospheric air with December temperature anomalies of >14°C that developed in two stages over the Amery Ice Shelf. First, there was near‐record poleward warm advection within an atmospheric river. Second, synoptically driven downslope flow from the interior reached unprecedented December strength over a large area, leading to strong descent and further warming in the coastal region. The coastal easterly winds were unusually deep and strong, and the warm pool was advected westwards, giving a short period of high temperatures at coastal locations, including a surface temperature of 9.3°C at Mawson, the second highest in its 66‐year record.

Entangled Impacts of Large-Scale Monsoon Flows and Terrain Circulations on the Diurnal Cycle of Rainfall over the Himalayas

Abstract The diurnal features of rainfall over the Himalayas have been widely investigated, but their triggers remain unclear. In this work, we divided the Himalayas and surroundings into four regions, including the plains, foothills, slopes, and plateau, and investigated the above issues. The results show that the rainfall total is controlled by large-scale monsoon flows while its meridional distribution is regulated by terrain circulations. The afternoon rainfall peak in the plains and foothills is linked with the intersection of two monsoon flows. The southward-shifting rainfall peak, which occurs from midnight to early morning in the slopes and foothills, is affected by the nighttime downslope flow and the strong Bay of Bengal monsoon flow in the morning. The evening rainfall peak in the plateau and high-altitude slopes is thought to be a result of the atmospheric layer being at its moistest at that time. Significance Statement During the South Asian summer monsoon season, the Himalayas are affected by two large-scale monsoon flows as well as unique topographic circulations. We want to understand how these complex circulations act on diurnal variations of orographic precipitation. The diurnal cycle of rainfall over the Himalayas and surroundings shows three prominent south-to-north peaks, which are caused by significantly different thermodynamic conditions. The southward-shifting diurnal rainfall peak over the Himalayan slopes and foothills, which contributes the most to the arc-shaped orographic rain belt, is triggered by the nighttime downslope flow and strengthened by the strong Bay of Bengal monsoon flow in the morning. The result highlights the entangled impact of monsoon and terrain circulations on orographic precipitation.

Comparison of depth-averaged and 3D models for dense granular flows

Debris flows are one of the major threats to mountain communities. They consist of the downslope flow of fine and coarse material, saturated with water, along channelized paths. Due to their high velocity and unpredictability, the evacuation of hit areas may be difficult to execute. To avoid casualties and economic losses, mitigation structures, like filter barriers, are therefore usually adopted. Their primary task is to reduce the flow energy and to retain larger boulders. However, considerable room to improve the design of these structures still exists. In particular, gaining a better understanding of debris flows dynamics is a necessary step to improve the design of barriers. Numerical modelling can contribute to its understanding, and in an effective simulation of the flowing mass dynamics and impact against mitigation barriers. In this frame, the continuum-based Depth-Averaged Modelling (DAM) has been widely used since the 90s. In spite of the good results of this approach, together with the low computational time, the averaging procedure of velocity and pressure along the flow depth causes the loss of crucial information, which is important for correctly simulating the interaction with mitigation structures. A full 3D modelling can overcome this shortcoming by allowing a more complete flow representation, and a more accurate computation of impact forces. However, since debris flow may run for long distances, 3D models would require a large computational time. In this work we aim to study both the shortcomings and the advantages of the DAMs and 3D models. In particular, The DAM model used is DAN-W, while the 3D model is based on the lattice-Boltzmann method. To compare the results from numerical modelling, we use the experimental work performed by Moriguchi et al. (2009) in which a mass of dry sand flows on a steep chute.

Dense water downslope flow and AABW production in a numerical model: Sensitivity to horizontal and vertical resolution in the region off Cape Darnley polynya

The formation of Dense Shelf Water (DSW) and Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) in the Southern Ocean is an essential part of the thermohaline circulation, and understanding this phenomenon is crucial for studying the global climate. AABW is formed as DSW flows down the continental slope and mixes with the surrounding waters. However, DSW formation and its descent remains a poorly resolved issue in many ocean models. We, therefore, simulated the formation and descent of DSW and investigated the model sensitivities to horizontal and vertical grid spacings. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm) was used for the region off Cape Darnley in East Antarctica, one of the main AABW production areas, where historical and mooring data are available for comparison. Simulations with coarse horizontal grid resolutions of order (10 km) yielded high volumes of DSW on the shelf. However, the largest part of this DSW was transformed into intermediate water and advected westward. Horizontal model resolutions equal to or higher than 2 km were required to simulate the descent of DSW and a realistic AABW production. Simulated time series at a mooring located at a depth of 2,600 m showed periodic fluctuations in velocity and temperature of 0.3 m⋅s−1 and 0.5 °C, respectively, consistent with observations. We also found that high-resolution bathymetry datasets are crucial because the newly formed AABW volume was reduced by 20% when a smoother bathymetry was used on a 2-km resolution grid. Vertical resolution had little influence on model performance because the plume was much thicker (> 170 m) than the grids width. Therefore, reproducing the downslope flow of DSW and AABW formation in the Cape Darnley region can be achieved with a high horizontal resolution (≤ 2 km) and a relatively coarse vertical resolution (∼100 m on the continental slope).

Temporal Variability in Bottom Water Structures of the Continental Slope in the Northern South China Sea

AbstractTemporal variability in bottom water structures has been observed in 37‐h high‐resolution temperature data at the ocean bottom up to 67.4 m on the continental shelf of the northern South China Sea. The water temperature is generally hot (cold) in the downslope (upslope) flow, but rapid temperature change is associated with the cross‐slope flow intensity changes. Downslope, wandering, and upslope phases are classified depending on the flow directions. Ellison scale method is used to evaluate the turbulent mixing. Intensive dissipation is observed in the wandering phase, the vertically integrated dissipation Eɛ ∼ 322 mW/m2 and the eddy diffusivity 〈Kz〉 in 0.01–0.15 m2/s, which is attributed to the critical interaction between the semidiurnal tides and the slope boundary. Eɛ is gradually reduced to 38.1 mW/m2 in the upslope phase, in which the topography is subcritical to the internal tides, while 〈Kz〉 is occasionally promoted to 0.077 m2/s owing to the weaker stratification. The bottom mixed layer is persistently exhibited, but highly intermittent around 13.9 m and varies from 0.2 m to greater than 67.4 m. Its thickness depends strongly on the water stratification and seems not to be directly linked with the turbulent mixing. The bottom unstable layer occurs mainly in the period slightly before and in the first half of the upslope flow phase. The induced convection makes a substantial contribution to the turbulent mixing when the overall mixing is relatively mild. In the intense mixing, even though the convectively driven mixing becomes much stronger, its contribution is less significant.

Interactions of Microtopography, Slope and Infiltration Cause Complex Rainfall‐Runoff Behavior at the Hillslope Scale for Single Rainfall Events

AbstractMicrotopography (MT) can govern runoff dynamics as a net result of local heterogeneities in the flow paths and ponding. This in turn controls the development of the surface water layer that connects and flows downslope. It is therefore important to understand which microtopographic features affect runoff generation dynamics and its macroscopic—hillslope scale—hydrological signatures (e.g., hydrographs, runoff and infiltration volumes). In this study, we numerically solve 2D overland flow from a single rain pulse on 1,460 idealized hillslopes with different slopes and sinusoidal microtopographies and different infiltration capacities. We assess hydrodynamic distributions, hydrographs and hydrological indices to assess the effects of MT and infiltration on the (local) hydrodynamic and (larger scale) hydrologic responses in terms of surface runoff regimes. The results show that MT enhances infiltration and that infiltration and runoff depend in a strong non‐linear way on slope and the properties of MT. Three regimes of influence of MT were identified: one in which MT plays a negligible role but there is a high sensitivity to the infiltration capacity curve, a second regime in which hydrological partitioning is highly sensitive to MT and the infiltration capacity curve, and a third regime in which MT increases infiltration, but the response is insensitive to particular features, and more affected by the average slopes. The regimes are the product of the interplay between small (MT) and large scale (slope) properties. Furthermore, the results suggest that hydrological signatures can be interpreted and explained by the spatiotemporal variation of surface connectivity.

Poleward transport of African dust to the Iberian Peninsula organized by a barrier jet and hydraulic jumps: Observations and high-resolution simulation analyses

Most air quality stations in Spain exceeded the European Union's daily PM10 limit due to the February 2016 Saharan dust outbreak, which resulted from two successive dust storms in Northwest Africa. This study identifies the meso-β/meso-γ-scale dynamical processes responsible for developing these dust storms using observations and high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry simulations. The results revealed that the first dust storm was associated with a strong barrier jet (BJ). The BJ formed on the southeastern foothills of the Saharan Atlas Mountains (SAM) when an easterly-northeasterly low-level Mediterranean flow was blocked by a stably stratified layer close to the SAM. The BJ intensified just after sunrise on 20 February and the associated near-surface peak winds organized the first dust storm. The second dust storm was linked to a mesoscale gravity wave (MGW) and hydraulic jumps. A long-lived westward propagating MGW was triggered by a downslope flow interacting with the stable layer near the northeastern edge of the Tinrhert Plateau in eastern Algeria. When this MGW crossed the Tademaït Plateau, hydraulic jumps formed on its lee side. The strong winds accompanying these hydraulic jumps formed the second dust storm on 21 February. The lifted dust extended over a depth of 2–3 km in the growing daytime boundary layer and was advected poleward by the southerly/southeasterly mid-tropospheric winds. Our results underline the importance of resolving terrain-induced mesoscale processes to understand dust storm dynamics, which are difficult to represent in coarse-resolution numerical models.

Sedimentary processes of shallow-marine turbidite fans: An example from the Huangliu Formation in the Yinggehai Basin, South China Sea

The shallow-marine turbidite fans in the Upper Miocene Huangliu Formation of the Yinggehai Basin in the northwestern South China Sea (SCS) provide an excellent opportunity to understand their sedimentary processes in a shelf depositional environment. The down-slope gravity flow processes and along-slope bottom-current reworking processes of shallow-marine turbidite fans were interpreted by using seismic, well logging, core, petrographic, geochemical, and petrophysical data. Several depositional elements were identified in the shallow-marine turbidite fans, namely, channel-fill high-density turbidites (HDTs), channel-fill low-density turbidites (LDTs) and associated frontal splays, sand-rich/mud-rich lobe deposits, and bottom-current reworked channel-fill/lobe deposits. Deep U-shaped (or V-shaped) seismic reflections and low root-mean-square (RMS) amplitudes characterize the channel-fill HDTs that consist of massive fine-grained sandstones with mud clasts. The channel-fill LDTs, characterized by V-shaped or worm-shaped reflections, mostly consist of normally graded, laminated and rippled, very fine-grained sandstones. Frontal splays are generally associated with channel-fill LDTs. The sand-rich lobe deposits show continuous high-amplitude sheet-like reflections and consist of HDTs and LDTs, whereas the mud-rich lobe deposits show continuous moderate-amplitude reflections and consist of muddy debrites. The bottom-current reworked sandstones (BCRSs), which comprise well-sorted, fine-grained sandstones with traction-current structures, are usually located in the upper parts of thick sandbodies. The variability of depositional elements from large-scale channel-fill HDTs with strong basal erosion in fan-1 to small-scale channel-fill LDTs in fan-2 is closely linked with sea-level fluctuations that result in variable gravity-flow energy and sediment input. However, the reoccurrence of large-scale channel-fill HDTs in fan-3 at sea-level highstands may possibly be attributed to enhanced sediment input from the source areas. Down-slope flow transformation from turbidity flows into muddy debris flows within an individual channel-lobe complex (CLC) resulted in a dramatic increase in clay content and resultant decreasing reservoir quality from the channel-fill HDTs to the mud-rich lobe deposits, because muddy sediments are incorporated into the precursor turbidity flows and turbulence is suppressed. Additionally, it is suggested that the widely developed traction-current structures and tidal signatures (double mud layers, mud-draped ripples, discrete wavy bedding, internal truncation surface, and convex-up laminae) are the products of reworking by internal waves and -tides. During periods of sea-level highstands, the upper parts of gravity-flow sandstones would undergo bottom-current reworking, thus resulting in the retransportation of muddy fines and the formation of reworked sandstones with traction-current structures and tidal signatures. In this study, a combination of traction-current structures, tidal signatures, vertical sequences showing sharp upper contacts and non-gradational upper contacts, and trace elements is considered to be convincing diagnostic criteria in distinguishing reworked sandstones from gravity-flow sandstones. The representative bottom-current reworked sandstones should be preferable hydrocarbon targets in further exploration because of their better reservoir properties compared with gravity-flow sandstones. This research offers some insight into gravity-flow processes and bottom-current reworking processes in a shallow marine environment.