Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of a water surface on mesoscale dynamics as a function of atmospheric stability

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several numerical experiments have been undertaken with a three-dimensional mesoscale model in order to determine to what extent a water surface such as a lake can influence mesoscale flow patterns.

It is shown that the influence of the lake is important when cumulus clouds are present. These clouds, generated by evaporation from the water surface are small but induce significant secondary circulations which disrupt the flow field on the mesoscale.

Artificial suppression of cloud activity results in a situation where the lake exerts little influence on the atmospheric environment in comparison to the control experiment where the body of water is absent. Atmospheric stability controls the intensity of perturbations to the mean flow when clouds are present.

The study is of interest when modeling a number of complex phenomena simultaneously; the results shown here indicate that under certain stability conditions, a small lake can be ignored as to its dynamic and thermodynamic influence on atmospheric processes, thus leading to a neglect of a number of equations taking into account moisture terms explicitly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Augstein, E. and Wendel, M.: 1981, ‘Modelling of the Time-Dependent Atmospheric Tradewind Boundary Layer with Non-Precipitating Cumulus Clouds’, Contr. Atm. Phys. 53, 509–538.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beniston, M.: 1982, ‘Développement d'un modéle tridimensionnel \' meso-échelle pour l'étude de la convection cellulaire, La Météorologie 29, 193–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beniston, M.: 1983, ‘Meso-scale Model for the Investigation of Three-Dimensional Convective Phenomena. Model Description and Preliminary Results from a KonTur Simulation’, Hamb. Geophys. Einzel. B2, 1–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beniston, M.: 1984, ‘A Numerical Study of Atmospheric Mesoscale Cellular Convection’, Dyn. Atm. Oc. 8, 223–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beniston, M.: 1985, ‘Organisation of Convection in a Numerical Mesoscale Model as a Function of Initial and Lower Boundary Conditions’, Contr. Atm. Phys. 58, 31–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beniston, M. and Schmetz, J.: 1985, ‘A Three-Dimensional Study of Mesoscale Model Response to Radiative Forcing’, Boundary-Layer Meterol. 31, 149–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley, E. F.: 1968, ‘A Micrometeorological Study of Velocity Profiles and Surface Drag in the Region Modified by a Change of Roughness’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 94, 361–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Businger, J.-A., Wyngaard, J.-C., Izumi, Y., and Bradley, E. F.: 1971, ‘Flux-Profile Relationships in the Atmospheric Surface Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 28, 181–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estoque, M. A.: 1961, ‘A Theoretical Investigation of the Sea Breeze’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 87, 136–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E.: 1969, ‘On the Distribution and the Continuity of Water Substance in Atmospheric Circulations’, Meterol. Monogr., Am. Meteorol. Soc. 32, 84 pp.

  • O'Brien, J. J.: 1970, ‘A Note on The Vertical Structure of the Eddy Exchange Coefficient in the Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 27, 1213–1215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkey, D. J. and Kreizberg, C. W.: 1976, ‘A Time-Dependent Lateral Boundary Scheme for Limited Area Primitive Equation Models’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 104, 744–755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, E. W.: 1969, ‘Modification of Mean Flow and Turbulent Energy by a Change in Surface Roughness Under Conditions of Neutral Stability’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 95, 561–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielke, R. A.: 1974, ‘A Three-Dimensional Numerical Model of the Sea Breezes over South Florida’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 102, 115–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmelz, J. and Beniston, M.: 1986, ‘Relative Effects of Solar and Infrared Radiative Forcing in a Mesoscale Model’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 34, 337–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, P. A.: 1970, ‘A Model of Air Flow Above Changes in Surface Heat Flux, Temperature, and Roughness for Neutral and Unstable Conditions’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 1, 18–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Townsend, A. A.: 1965, ‘The Flow in a Turbulent Boundary Layer After a Change in Surface Roughness’, J. Fluid Mech. 26, 255–266.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IENER, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Martin Beniston

Authors
  1. Martin Beniston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beniston, M. The influence of a water surface on mesoscale dynamics as a function of atmospheric stability. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 36, 19–37 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117456

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117456

Keywords

Search

Navigation