Vertical momentum transport over mountainous terrain
| dc.contributor.author | Wooldridge, Gene L., author | |
| dc.contributor.author | Reiter, Elmar R., author | |
| dc.contributor.author | Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisher | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-10-11T18:09:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-10-11T18:09:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1970-09 | |
| dc.description | CER70-71GLW28. | |
| dc.description | September, 1970. | |
| dc.description | This report was prepared with support under contract number NAS 9-10305 National Aeronautics and Space Administration. | |
| dc.description.abstract | High-resolution pictures obtained with a handheld camera during the earth-orbital photographic mission of the Apollo IX spacecraft provided a unique opportunity to map the areal extent of gravity waves over the southwestern United States. The orientation of cumulus streets and cirrus streaks augmented conventional wind data for momentum and kinetic energy calculations. Zonal shearing stress gradients in stably stratified air flowing over rugged mountainous terrain indicated very large subgrid-scale vertical fluxes of zonal momentum. Maximum stress values of several tens of dynes cm-2 occurred in the lower tropospheric layers where the air flow encountered the high Rocky Mountains of central New Mexico. The vertical fluxes of zonal momentum were directed upward to tropopause levels when extensive areas of gravity waves covered eastern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. The potential energy contained in the wave population 5-2 attained values through the troposphere as high as 9.3 x 10 joules m 8-2 (9.3 x 10 ergs cm); this potential energy apparently played a substantial role in the energy budget. The residual "dissipation" term in the kinetic energy budget indicated a subgrid-scale flux of energy downward from the lower stratosphere concurrent with the upward flux of zonal momentum. Atmospheric turbulence rose to a maximum intensity during the wave occurrence, diminishing gradually thereafter. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Under Contract number NAS 9-10305. | |
| dc.format.medium | technical reports | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10217/198259 | |
| dc.language | English | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Colorado State University. Libraries | |
| dc.relation | Catalog record number (MMS ID): 991023632699703361 | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Civil Engineering Reports | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | CER, 70/71-28 | |
| dc.rights | Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Gravity waves | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Atmospheric circulation -- Effect of mountains on | |
| dc.title | Vertical momentum transport over mountainous terrain | |
| dc.type | Text | |
| dcterms.rights.dpla | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). |
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