Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Three-dimensional simulation of cloud street development during a cold air outbreak

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

Abstract

A three-dimensional numerical model is used to study boundary-layer eddy structure during a cold air outbreak. The model explicitly represents the large-scale three-dimensional motions, while small-scale turbulence is parameterized; it contains a water cycle with cloud formation and it takes into account infrared radiative cooling in cloudy conditions and the influence of large-scale vertical motions.

The model is applied to conditions corresponding to an observed case of cloud street/stratocumulus development which occurred over the Greenland Sea during the ARKTIS 1988 experiment. The boundary layer is found to grow rapidly as the cold air flows off the ice over the relatively warm water. Coherent structures were identified in this boundary layer. It is found that the rolls become increasingly more convective in character with distance from the ice edge. Qualitative and quantitative descriptions of the flow field are given. Additionally, the relative importance of the various physical processes and external parameters in the evolution of the mean field of variables is indicated.

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

  • Betts, A. K.: 1973, ‘Non-Precipitating Cumulus Convection and its Parameterization’, Quart. J. Roy, Meteorol. Soc. 99 178–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bougeault, Ph.: 1981, ‘Modeling the Trade Wind Cumulus Boundary Layer. Part I: Testing the Ensemble Cloud Relations against Numerical Data’, J. Atmos. Sci. 38 2414–2428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. A.: 1970, ‘A Secondary Flow Model for the Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 27 742–757.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. A.: 1980, ‘Longitudinal Instabilities and Secondary Flows in the Planetary Boundary Layer: A Review’, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 18 683–697.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brümmer, B.: 1985, ‘Structure, Dynamics and Energetics of Boundary Layer Rolls from KonTur Aircraft Observations’, Contr. Atm. Phys. 58 237–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummer, B., Rump, B., and Kruspe, G.: 1991, ‘A Cold Air Outbreak near Spitsbergen in Springtime: Boundary Layer Modification and Cloud Development ’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. (in press).

  • Chlond, A.: 1987, ‘A Numerical Study of Horizontal Roll Vortices in Neutral and Unstable Atmospheric Boundary Layers’, Contr. Arm. Phys. 60 144–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, S. K.: 1976, ‘Observation of Cloud Infrared Effective Emissitivity’, J. Atmos. Sci. 33 287–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deardorff, J. W.: 1972, ‘Numerical Investigation of Neutral and Unstable Planetary Boundary Layers’, J. Atmos. Sci. 29 91–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deardorff, J. W.: 1980, ‘Stratocumulus-Capped Mixed Layers Derived from a Three-Dimensional Model’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 18 495–527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etling, D., and Raasch, S.: 1987, ‘Numerical Simulation of Vortex Roll Development During a Cold Air Outbreak’, Dyn. Atmos. Oceans 10 277–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hein, P. F., and Brown, R. A.: 1988, ‘Observations of Longitudinal Roll Vortices During Arctic Cold Air Outbreaks over Open Water’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 45 177–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herring, J. R.: 1979, ‘Subgrid Scale Modeling — An Introduction and Overview’, Turb. Shear Flows 1 347–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, P. H., and Businger, J. A.: 1979, ‘The Effect of Radiative Flux Divergence on Entrainment of a Saturated Convective Boundary Layer’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol Soc. 105 303–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Küttner, J. P.: 1971, ‘Cloud Bands in the Atmosphere’, Tellus 23 404–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeMone, M. A.: 1973, ‘The Structure and Dynamics of Horizontal Roll Vortices in the Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 30 1077–1091.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeMone, M. A.: 1976, ‘Modulation of Turbulence Energy of Longitudinal Rolls in an Unstable Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 33 1308–1320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewellen, W. S.: 1977, ‘Use of Invariant Modeling. Handbook of Turbulence’, Plenum 237–290.

  • Mason, P. J., and Sykes, R. I.: 1982, ‘A Two-Dimensional Numerical Study of Horizontal Roll Vortice in an Inversion Capped Planetary Boundary Layer’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 108 801–823.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, P. J.: 1985, ‘A Numerical Study of Cloud Streets in the Planetary Boundary Layer’, Boundary-Layer Meterol. Soc. 2 281–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, P. J.: 1989, ‘Large Eddy Simulation of the Convective Atmospheric Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 46 1492–1516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellor, G. L., and Yamada, T.: 1974, ‘A Hierarchy of Turbulence Closure Models for Planetary Boundary Layers’, J. Atmos. Sci. 31 1791–1806.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miura, Y.: 1986, ‘Aspect Ratios of Longitudinal Rolls and Convection Cells Observed During Cold Air Outbreaks’, J. Atmos. Sci. 43 26–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piasek, S. A., and Williams, G. P.: 1970, ‘Conservation Properties of Convection Difference Schemes’, J. Comput. Phys. 6 392–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raasch, S.: 1990, ‘Numerical Simulation of the Development of the Convective Boundary Layer During a Cold Air Outbreak’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. Soc. 52 349–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumann, U., and Friedrich, R. (Eds.): 1986, ‘Direct and Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulence’, Notes on Numer. Fluid Mech., Vol. 15, Vieweg, Braunschweig.

  • Sommeria, G.: 1976, ‘Three-Dimensional Simulation of Turbulent Processes in an Undisturbed Trade Wind Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 33 216–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommeria, G., and Deardorff, J. W.: 1977, ‘Subgrid-Scale Condensation in Models of Nonprecipitating Clouds’, J. Atmos. Sci. 34 344–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, G. L.: 1978, ‘Radiation Profiles in Extended Water Clouds. Part II: Parameterization Schemes’, J. Atmos. Sci. 35 2123–2132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, R. I., Lewellen, W. S., and Henn, D. S.: 1988, ‘A Numerical Study of the Development of Cloud Street Spacing’, J. Atmos. Sci. 45 2556–2569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, R. I., Lewellen, W. S., and Henn, D. S.: 1990, ‘Numerical Simulation of the Boundary-Layer Eddy Structure During the Cold-Air Outbreak of GALE IOP2’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 118 363–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, B. A.: 1980, ‘Wintertime Observations of Roll Clouds over the Bering Sea’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 108 2024–2031.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, E. K.: 1982, ‘Profile Relationships in the Superadiabatic Surface Layer’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 108 661–688.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G. P.: 1969, ‘Numerical Integration of the Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Equations for Incompressible Flow’, J. Fluid Mech. 37 727–750.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany

    A. Chlond

Authors
  1. A. Chlond
    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

Chlond, A. Three-dimensional simulation of cloud street development during a cold air outbreak. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 58, 161–200 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120757

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120757

Keywords

Search

Navigation