Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Mesoscale Atmospheric Circulation And Diffusion Characteristics, Ronan I. Ellis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Constant volume superpressure pillow balloons were flown over a mountain valley downwind from a sharp ridge line. Balloon trajectories revealed and atmospheric soundings confirmed a persistent turbulently mixed adiabatic layer over the valley at approximately ridge top height except in the immediate lee of the ridge where strong vertical motions were observed. Temporary stationarity of the relative mesoscale turbulence was found to exist on a time scale exceeding 4 hours. Power spectrum analysis of component relative velocities showed greater variance in lower wave numbers and anisotropy in mesoscale turbulence. Eddy diffusivity coefficients for turbulence above the ridge height were K …