Vertical Interactions in a Nocturnal Multi-Scale Wind System Influenced by Atmospheric Stability in a Coastal Area

Summary

 The winter wind regime of Göteborg, located on the West coast of Sweden, is composed of three different wind systems besides the ambient wind; a nocturnal low level jet (NLLJ), a winter land breeze (WLB) and an urban heat island circulation (UHIC). An inversion divides the air column into two layers, one between 10 – 50 m and one between 50 – 100 m. The UHIC is located in the lower layer, the WLB in the top layer and the NLLJ above the top layer. The intensity of the interacting processes depends on the stability of each layer as calculated from the bulk Richardson number (BRi_low and BRi_high) using continuous data collected during four years (1991 – 94) from two sites (one within and one outside the urban area) and sampled at three levels. In the evening the WLB develops from the ground level and increases in height until after midnight. At about the same time an UHIC develops in the urban area, below the WLB and causing an uplift of the latter. However, at both sites the WLB does not exceed the 100 m level. At this time BRi in both layers are below one resulting in continuous coupling between the WLB, the UHIC layers and the regional wind. Consequently, the exchange of momentum is still effective between all layers and this is highlighted by a change in the wind direction and a regulation of wind-speed to more constant levels. When BRi_high≥1, the layers become frictionally decoupled, as indicated by a return in the wind direction in the top level to the regional wind, and an acceleration of the top wind. The top level then becomes incorporated in to a nocturnal low-level jet (NLLJ) system. The normally acknowledged development of the NLLJ, with a start around sunset, is in this case delayed for several hours at the top level. The reason for this is that there are meso-scale/local wind systems present in layers beneath the jet causing an interaction between the layers. In the morning, when the layers are again coupled the top layer wind is once more influenced by the WLB and therefore changes direction and speed. The local and meso-scale wind systems thus delay the current nocturnal wind development.