Observations of Drainage Winds on a Simple Slope

摘要

Katabatic winds observed over a simple slope showed progressive deepening and strengthening with increased downslope distance. The maximum in the downslope wind component increases, and the height of the maximum rises as the flow develops. A measure of the flow depths obtained from the temperature profiles at the Rattlesnake Mountain site near Richland, Washington and the Cobb Mountain site in northern California shows that these depths are insensitive to the details of the ambient conditions, provided the drainage flows are well established. Depths of the katabatically driven winds appeared to be more sensitive to ambient wind directions. (ERA citation 08:021684)