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Atmosphere
Special Issues
Mountain Meteorology: Research and Development toward Improved Understanding and Applications
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Mountain Meteorology: Research and Development toward Improved Understanding and Applications

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Meteorology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 4490

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jason C. Knievel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA
Interests: mesoscale meteorology; microscale meteorology; weather analysis and forecasting; numerical weather prediction (NWP); urban meteorology; land-atmosphere interactions; atmospheric boundary layer; moist convection; mesoscale convective vortices; density currents; gravity waves; mountain waves; tropical cyclones; wildfires; flash floods; ensemble prediction systems (EPS); model verification; Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model; Cloud Model 1 (CM1); field projects; technology transfer; research to operations (R2O) transition; scientific communication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Stephan De Wekker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Clark Hall, 291 McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400123, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA
Interests: boundary layer meteorology; mountain meteorology; micrometeorology; land-atmosphere interactions; turbulence

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue comprises articles on research and development in mountain meteorology, with emphasis on advancements that lead to practical applications that benefit society.

Mountains cover roughly one-quarter of the land on Earth and influence the atmosphere on scales from turbulent eddies to global climate. The precise forms of those influences depend on a variety of characteristics, such as a mountain’s geometry, orientation, location, and land cover. Mountains and the valleys between them pose scientific challenges particular to that landscape. For example, mountain weather is the product of complex interactions among processes and phenomena across a very wide range of scales, sometimes with almost uniquely local results. Establishing and maintaining sensor platforms to observe mountain weather is difficult in remote, rugged locations. Numerical models struggle with steep slopes at the lower boundary and with the extreme vertical gradients in the wind, temperature, humidity, and other properties that are common in mountainous terrain. When these and other challenges are overcome, mountain meteorology advances. So, too, do other linked scientific disciplines such as hydrology, cryology, geology, zoology, botany, and ecology. Practical applications born out of advances in mountain meteorology potentially benefit industries such as energy, transportation, food and water, health, construction, recreation, real estate, finance, disaster response, and insurance. Theory, observations, and models all have roles to play in our effort to understand more about mountain meteorology. Innovative combinations of all three often lead to the most groundbreaking, enduring progress in the field.

Atmosphere invites submissions on topics in mountain meteorology and especially encourages authors to submit results from interdisciplinary research and development. Manuscripts may present original applied research or basic research; in the case of the latter, a manuscript should describe clearly what practical applications the basic research might lead to. Manuscripts may also take the form of reviews that synthesize previous and current research and development, enumerate remaining challenges, and recommend directions for future work.

Dr. Jason C. Knievel
Dr. Stephan F.J. De Wekker
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mountains
  • weather
  • climate
  • mesoscale
  • microscale
  • land-atmosphere interactions
  • atmospheric boundary layer
  • turbulence
  • wind shear
  • snow
  • snowpack
  • runoff
  • orographic precipitation
  • glacier
  • avalanche
  • foehn
  • chinook
  • bora
  • anabatic wind
  • katabatic wind
  • gap wind
  • rotor
  • boundary-layer
  • separation
  • hydraulic jump
  • downslope windstorm
  • lee wave
  • mountain wave
  • gravity wave
  • wave breaking
  • critical layer
  • barrier jet
  • exit jet
  • blocking
  • cold pool
  • cold-air damming
  • venting
  • flash flood
  • debris flow
  • inversion
  • freezing level
  • melting level
  • channeling
  • slope wind
  • valley wind
  • mountain-plain wind
  • drainage flow
  • diurnal cycle
  • wildfire
  • fire weather
  • drought
  • fog
  • rain shadow
  • monsoon storm
  • wind energy
  • air quality
  • emergency response
  • numerical weather prediction (NWP)
  • weather analysis and forecasting
  • predictability
  • data assimilation
  • numerical methods
  • physical parameterizations
  • machine learning
  • artificial intelligence
  • observing platforms
  • remote sensing
  • coupled applications
  • coupled models
  • model verification
  • decision support systems
  • research to operations (R2O) transition

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 2434 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Terrain Smoothing on Simulated Convective Boundary-Layer Depths in Mountainous Terrain
by Gert-Jan Duine, Stephan F. J. De Wekker and Jason C. Knievel
Atmosphere 2024, 15(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15020145 - 24 Jan 2024
Viewed by 711
Abstract
Many applications rely on a correct estimation of the convective boundary layer (CBL) depth over mountainous terrain, but often these applications use numerical model simulations. Although models inevitably smooth terrain, the amount of smoothing depends on grid spacing. We investigate the behavior of [...] Read more.
Many applications rely on a correct estimation of the convective boundary layer (CBL) depth over mountainous terrain, but often these applications use numerical model simulations. Although models inevitably smooth terrain, the amount of smoothing depends on grid spacing. We investigate the behavior of the CBL in coarse- and fine-grid models applied to mountainous terrain by using output from an operational mesoscale modeling system and by performing quasi-idealized simulations. We investigate different areas in different climate zones using different CBL top derivation methods, grid spacing ratios, planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes, and terrain smoothing. We find that when compared to fine-grid simulations, CBL depths are systematically larger in coarse domains over mountaintops, and to a lesser extent in valleys. On average, differences between coarse- and fine-domains over mountaintops could reach around 10%. In certain locations, differences could be as high as 25%. We attribute the result to terrain smoothing. Similarly, when using a coarse-grid CBL height (relative to mean sea level) interpolated using fine-grid terrain information, there is good agreement with fine-grid CBL depths over mountaintops and less agreement in valleys. Our results have implications for applications that use output from coarse model grids in mountainous terrain. These include inverse modeling studies (e.g., greenhouse gas budget estimations or integrated water vapor transport), PBL evaluation studies, climate research, air quality applications, planning and executing prescribed burns, and studies associated with precipitation over mountainous terrain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mountain Meteorology: Research and Development toward Improved Understanding and Applications)
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25 pages, 16853 KiB  
Article
Roles of the Topographically-Affected Boundary Layer Low-Level Jet in the Moisture Transport Process of Nocturnal Rainstorms in Mountainous Areas around the Western Sichuan Basin
by Annan Wu and Guoping Li
Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010084 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1174
Abstract
Fifteen cases were selected from May to September 2010 to 2021 to study the moisture transport of nocturnal rainstorms in mountainous areas around the western Sichuan Basin (western SCB). Nocturnal rainstorms mainly occur along mountains in southwestern SCB, from 22 to 04 LST, [...] Read more.
Fifteen cases were selected from May to September 2010 to 2021 to study the moisture transport of nocturnal rainstorms in mountainous areas around the western Sichuan Basin (western SCB). Nocturnal rainstorms mainly occur along mountains in southwestern SCB, from 22 to 04 LST, peaking at 00 LST. The four following moisture transport paths (proportions) were obtained using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT): the local path from southeastern SCB (51.9%), the southerly path from the South China Sea (35.1%), the northwestern path from western Tibetan Plateau (TP) (6.6%), and the easterly path from the East China Sea (6.4%). The persistent southwest monsoon is the large-scale circulation for nocturnal rainstorms in western SCB while the boundary layer low-level jet (BLJ) over southeastern SCB plays a key role in diurnal variations of moisture transport in western SCB. To discuss the roles of the topographically-affected BLJ in moisture transport, the wind field is decomposed into creeping flows (flows over mountains) and circumfluence flows (flows around mountains). At 22 LST, ageostrophic creeping flows turn southeast due to the clockwise rotation caused by inertial oscillations of the BLJ, transporting moisture directly into western SCB and converging because of the blocking effect of TP. Meanwhile, the opposite geostrophic circumfluence flows and ageostrophic circumfluence flows meet and accumulate at the “trumpet” topography in western SCB, leading to moisture convergence, and the moisture budget peaks at 22 LST, 2 h earlier than the rainstorm peak. The creeping flows force upward motions over western SCB, and the conflict between upward warm–moist flows and cold–dry downslope flows from TP triggers convection, which significantly strengthens the vertical velocity. The results confirm the existence of the BLJ over southeastern SCB both in the Eulerian and Lagrangian viewpoints and reveal the roles of the topographically-affected BLJ in the moisture transport process of nocturnal rainstorms in western SCB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mountain Meteorology: Research and Development toward Improved Understanding and Applications)
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26 pages, 8747 KiB  
Article
Characterising Large-Scale Meteorological Patterns Associated with Winter Precipitation and Snow Accumulation in a Mountain Range in the Iberian Peninsula (Sierra de Guadarrama)
by Cristina González-Flórez, Álvaro González-Cervera and Luis Durán
Atmosphere 2022, 13(10), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13101600 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1745
Abstract
Snow precipitation in mountains surrounded by semi-arid regions represents an important reservoir of fresh water during the melting season. The snow cover helps to compensate for the scarce precipitation that occurs during their long summer droughts. Knowing the phenomenology that leads to winter [...] Read more.
Snow precipitation in mountains surrounded by semi-arid regions represents an important reservoir of fresh water during the melting season. The snow cover helps to compensate for the scarce precipitation that occurs during their long summer droughts. Knowing the phenomenology that leads to winter precipitation and snow at these areas becomes even more relevant in a context of climate change. Precipitation in Sierra de Guadarrama, a medium size mountain range in the middle of the Iberian Plateau, is the main source of fresh water for millions of inhabitants living under its area of influence, for an active industry and for agriculture and farming. In addition, scarce but heavy snow events affect logistics, transport and security in an area with abundant ground and air traffic. This work analyses the links between large scale atmospheric patterns and the complex winter precipitation and snow cover dynamics observed at local scale. Applying principal component analysis and K-means clustering on geopotential height field, a set of circulation weather types are obtained. The contribution of each circulation weather type to precipitation, snow and heavy snow events is analysed, and favouring conditions leading to snowfalls are identified. Results from this work can be useful as a framework for future modelling exercises, statistical downscaling of climate change scenarios, or even for the development of early warning systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mountain Meteorology: Research and Development toward Improved Understanding and Applications)
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