Abstract
The identification of katabatic flows and their characteristics observed on a simple slope (the western side of Hymettos mountain) for a six-month period (January to June, 1990) are presented. This is the first application of data obtained from an 84 m high meteorological research tower recently erected at the National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” in Athens, Greece. The tower is described with respect to construction and instrumentation. The topography of the region and the observational site are also described. Criteria for the identification of katabatic flows are presented, while the frequency of occurrence of such flows is estimated. Finally, two case studies are analysed in order to reveal the special characteristics of the katabatic flows.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amanatidis, G. T., Synodinou, B., Bartzis, J. G., Asimakopoulos, D. N., and Helmis, C. G.: 1990, The Demokritos Meteorological Research Tower, DEMO 10/90, p. 30. National Center for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, Athens, Greece.
Atkinson, B. W.: 1981, Mesoscale Atmospheric Circulations, Academic Press Inc., London.
Arritt, R. W. and Pielke, R. A.: ‘Interactions of Nocturnal Slope Flows with Ambient Winds’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 37, 183–195.
Andreakos, C., Prezerakos, N. G., and Xirakis, P.: 1984, Analysis of the Air Field in Athens, Final report of B6612/9 contract number project prepared for Ministry of the Physical, Planning-Housing and the Environment, Athens.
Angell, J. K. and Bernstein, A. B.: 1976, ‘Evidence for a Reduction in Wind Speed on the Upwind Side of a Tower’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 15 186–188.
Barr, S. and Orgill, M. M.: 1989, ‘Influence of External Meteorology on Nocturnal Valley Drainage Winds’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 28 497–517.
Briggs, G. A.: 1981, Canopy Effects on Predicted Drainage Flow Characteristics and Comparisons with Observations, Preprints Fifth Symp. Turbulence, Diffusion and Air Pollution, Atlanta, Amer. Meteor. Soc. 113–117.
Clements, W. E. and Nappo, C. J.: 1983, ‘Observations of a Drainage Flow Event on a High-Altitude Simple Slope’, J. Climate Appl. Meteorol. 22 331–335.
Clements, W. E., Archuleta, J. A., and Hoard, D. A.: 1989, ‘Mean Structure of Nocturnal Drainage Flow in a Deep Valley’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 28 457–462.
Dickerson, M. H. and Gudiksen, P. H.: 1983, Atmospheric Studies in Complex Terrain: Technical Progress Report FY-1979 Through FY-1983, 367 pp.
Doran, J. C. and Horst, T. W.: 1981, ‘Velocity and Temperature Oscillations in Drainage Winds’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 20 361–364.
Doran, J. C. and Horst, T.W.: 1983, ‘Observations and Models of Simple Nocturnal Slope Flows’, J.Atmos.Sci. 40 708–717.
Doran, J. C., Horst, T. W., Whiteman, D. C.: 1990, ‘The Development and Structure of Nocturnal Slope Winds in a Simple Valley’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 52 41–68.
Fleagle, R. G.: 1950, ‘A Theory of Air Drainage’, J. Meteorol. 7 227–232.
Gagaoudaki, G.: 1979, The Surface Wind as Climatological Parameter which Influence the Transport and the Dispersion of Air Pollutants in Attika Region, National Meteorological Service, Athens, Greece.
Gill, G. C., Olsson, L. E., Sela, J. S., and Suda, M.: 1967, ‘Accuracy of Wind Measurements on Towers or Stacks’, Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc. 48 665–674.
Gudiksen, P. H.: 1989, ‘Categorization of Nocturnal Drainage Flows within the Brush Creek Valley and the Variability of Sigma Theta in Complex Terrain’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 28 489–495.
Helmis, C. G., Asimakopoulos, D. N., Deligiorgi, D. G., and Lalas, D. P.: 1987, ‘Observations of Sea-Breeze Fronts Near the Shoreline’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 38 395–410.
Hootman, B. W. and Blumen, W.: 1983, ‘Analysis of Nighttime Drainage Winds in Boulder, Colorado During 1980’, Mon. Weather Rev. 111 1052–1061.
Horst, T. W. and Doran, J. C.: 1986, ‘Nocturnal Drainage Flow on Simple Slopes’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 34 263–286.
Horst, T. W. and Doran, J. C.: 1988, ‘The Turbulence Structure of Nocturnal Slope Flow’, J. Atmos. Sci. 45 605–616.
Gusten, H., Heinrich, H., Cvitas, T., Klasinc, L., Ruscic, B., Lalas, D. P., and Petrakis, M.: 1988, ‘Photochemical Formation and Transport of Ozone in Athens’, Atm. Envir. 22 1855–1861.
Lalas, D. P., Asimakopoulos, D. N., Deligiorgi, D. G., and Helmis, C.: 1983, ‘Sea Breeze Circulation and Photochemical Pollution in Athens, Greece’, Atm. Environ. 17 1621–1632.
Low, P. S.: 1990, ‘Katabatic Winds in the Lower Tamar Valley, Tasmania’, Il Nuovo Cimenta C13 981–994.
Manins, P. C. and Sawford, B. L.: 1979a, ‘Katabatic Winds: A Field Case Study’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 105 1011–1025.
Manins, P. C. and Sawford, B. L.: 1979b, ‘A Model of Katabatic Winds’, J. Atmos. Sci. 35 619–630.
McNider, R. T.: 1982, ‘A Note on Velocity Fluctuations in Drainage Flows’, J. Atmos. Sci. 39 1658–1660.
Neff, W. D. and King, C. W.: 1988, ‘Observations of Complex Terrain Flows Using Acoustic Sounders: Drainage Flow Structure and Evolution’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 43 15–41.
Pissimanis, D., Karras, G., Notaridou, V., and Bartzis, J. G.: 1989, Preliminary Study on the Flow Field over Greece, DEMO report 89/1, p. 129, National Center for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, Athens, Greece.
Prezerakos, N. G.: 1986, ‘Characteristics of the Sea Breeze in Athens, Greece’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 36 245–266.
Rao, K. S. and Schaub, M. A.: 1990, ‘Observed Variations of Σθ and Σθ in the Nocturnal Drainage Flow in a Deep Valley’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 51 31–48.
Shinn, J. H., Cederwall, R. T., Gouveia, F. J., and Chapman, K. R.: 1989, ‘Micrometeorology of Slope Flows in a Tributary Canyon During the 1984 ASCOT Experiment’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 28 569–57.
Streten, N. A., Ishikawa, N., and Wendler, G.: 1974, ‘Some Observations of the Local Wind Regime on an Alaskan Arctic Glacier’, Arch. Meteor. Geophys. Bioclim. B22 337–350.
Yasuda, N., Konto, J., and Sato, T.: 1986, ‘Drainage Flow Observed in a V-shaped Valley’, J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan 64 283–301.
Ye, Z. J., Segal, M., Garratt, J. R., and Pielke, R. A.: 1989, ‘On the Impact of Cloudiness on the Characteristics of Nocturnal Downslope Flows’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 49 23–51.
Ziomas, I., Zerefos, C. S., Bais, A., Proyou, A., Amanatidis, G. T., and Kelessis, A.: 1989, ‘Significant Increasing Trends in Surface Ozone in Greece’, Envir. Techn. Lett. 10 1071–1082.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Amanatidis, G.T., Papadopoulos, K.H., Bartzis, J.G. et al. Evidence of katabatic flows deduced from a 84 m meteorological tower in Athens, Greece. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 58, 117–132 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120754
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120754