The influence of synoptic scale flow on sea breeze induced surface winds and calm zones

Martin Gahmberg; Hannu Savijärvi; Matti Leskinen

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0870.2009.00423.x

Authors:

Martin Gahmberg,

Department of Physics, 00014 University of Helsinki; WB-Sails Inc., Helsinki, FI

Hannu Savijärvi ,

Department of Physics, 00014 University of Helsinki, FI

Matti Leskinen

Department of Physics, 00014 University of Helsinki, FI

Abstract

High-latitude sea breezes and the related daytime calm zones were studied through fine-scale two-dimensional idealized simulations by varying the direction and speed of the ambient large-scale geostrophic flow in small steps. Strongest coastal afternoon breezes were obtained for moderate large-scale flows 45°–90° left from the pure offshore direction (as seen from the sea), while calm zones appeared near the coast for weak to moderate large-scale flows about 30°–90° right from offshore, and at the seaward edge of the breeze cell for weak ambient flows 45°–90° right from offshore. The complex daytime evolution of the wind field for ambient winds roughly opposing the sea breeze is illustrated via a few key cases.

How to Cite: Gahmberg, M., Savijärvi, H. and Leskinen, M., 2010. The influence of synoptic scale flow on sea breeze induced surface winds and calm zones. Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography, 62(2), pp.209–217. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0870.2009.00423.x

Accepted on 2 Nov 2009 Submitted on 3 Apr 2009

References

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Alpert , R , Cohen , A. , Neumann , J. and Doron E . 1982 . A model simulation of the summer circulation from the eastern Mediterranean past Lake Kinneret in the Jordan Valley . Mon. Wea. Rev . 110 , 994 – 1006 .

Arritt , R. W . 1989 . Numerical modeling of the offshore extent of sea breezes . Quart. J. Roy. Meteor Soc . 115 , 547 – 570 .

Arritt , R. W . 1993 . Effects of the large-scale flow on characteristic features of the Sea Breeze . J. AppL Meteor 32 , 116 – 125 .

Atkins , N. T. and Walcimoto , R. M . 1997 . Influence of the synoptic-scale flow on sea breezes observed during CaPE . Mon. Wea. Rev . 125 , 2112 – 2130 .

Atkins , N. T , Walcimoto , R. M. and Weckwerth , T. M . 1995 . Observations of the sea breeze front during CaPE. Part II: dual doppler and aircraft analysis . Mon. Wea. Rev . 123 , 944 – 969 .

Atkinson , B. W . 1981 . Meso-Scale Atmospheric Circulations . Academic Press , London, UK , 496 pp .

Bechtold , R , Pinty , J.-P. and Mascart , P . 1991 . A Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Large-Scale Winds on Sea-Breeze-and Inland-Breeze-type Circulations . J. Atmos. Sci . 30 , 1268 – 1279 .

Estoque , M. A . 1962 . The sea breeze as a function of prevailing synoptic situation . J. Atmos. Sci . 19 , 244 – 250 .

Fett , R. W. and Tag , P. M . 1984 . The sea-breeze-induced coastal calm zone as revealed by satellite data and simulated by a numerical model . Mon. Wea. Rev . 112 , 1226 – 1233 .

Fisher , E. L . 1960 . An observational study of the sea breeze . J. Met . 17 , 645 – 660 .

Frizzola , J. A. and Fisher , E. L . 1963 . A series of sea-breeze observations in the New York City area . J. AppL Met . 2 , 722 – 739 .

Langland , R. H. , Tag , P. M. and Fett , R. W . 1987 . Numerical simulation of a satellite-observed calm zone in Monterey Bay, California . Wea. Forecast . 2 , 261 – 268 .

Lyons , W. A. 1972 . The Climatology and Prediction of the Chicago Lake Breeze . J. AppL Meteor . 11 , 1259 – 1270 .

Ohashi , Y. and Kida , H . 2002 . Effects of mountains and urban areas on daytime local-circulations in the Osaka and Kyoto regions . J. Met. Soc. Japan 80 , 539 – 560 .

Pielke , R. A . 2002 . Mesoscale Meteorological Modelling 2nd Edition . Academic Press , San Diego .

Savijärvi , H . 1995 . Sea breeze effects on large-scale atmospheric flow . Contr Atmos. Phys . 68 , 335 – 344 .

Savijärvi , H . 1997 . Diurnal winds around Lake Tanganyika . Quart. J. Roy. Meteor Soc . 123 , 901 – 918 .

Savijärvi , H . 2004 . Model predictions of coastal winds in a small scale . Tellus 56A , 287 – 295 .

Savijärvi , H. and Alestalo , M . 1988 . The sea breeze over a lake or gulf as the function of the prevailing flow . Beitr Phys. Atmos . 61 , 98 – 104 .

Savijärvi , H. and Matthews , S . 2004 . Flow over small heat islands: a numerical sensitivity study . J. Atmos. Sci . 61 , 859 – 868 .

Savijärvi , H. , Niemeld , S. and Tisler , P . 2005 . Coastal winds and low-level jets: simulations for sea gulfs . Quart. J. Roy. Meteor Soc . 131 , 625 – 637 .

Segal , M. , McNider , R. T. , Pielke , R. A. and McDougal , D. S . 1982 . A numerical model simulation of the regional air pollution meteorology of the Greater Chesapeake Bay area-summer day case study . Atmos. Environ . 16 , 1381 – 1397 .

Stull , R. B . 1988 . An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology . Kluwer , Dordrecht , The Netherlands .

Wexler , R . 1946 . Theory and observations of land and sea breezes . Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc . 27 , 272 – 287 .

Yan , H. and Anthes , R. A . 1987 . The effect of latitude on the sea breeze . Mon. Wea. Rev . 115 , 936 – 956 .

[CIT0001] Alpert , P. and Savijärvi , H . 2008 . On the numerical asymmetry in calculating Coriolis terms through the splitting method in a mesoscale model . Int. J. Environ. Pollut . 32 , 139 – 148 .

[CIT0002] Alpert , R , Cohen , A. , Neumann , J. and Doron E . 1982 . A model simulation of the summer circulation from the eastern Mediterranean past Lake Kinneret in the Jordan Valley . Mon. Wea. Rev . 110 , 994 – 1006 .

[CIT0003] Arritt , R. W . 1989 . Numerical modeling of the offshore extent of sea breezes . Quart. J. Roy. Meteor Soc . 115 , 547 – 570 .

[CIT0004] Arritt , R. W . 1993 . Effects of the large-scale flow on characteristic features of the Sea Breeze . J. AppL Meteor 32 , 116 – 125 .

[CIT0005] Atkins , N. T. and Walcimoto , R. M . 1997 . Influence of the synoptic-scale flow on sea breezes observed during CaPE . Mon. Wea. Rev . 125 , 2112 – 2130 .

[CIT0006] Atkins , N. T , Walcimoto , R. M. and Weckwerth , T. M . 1995 . Observations of the sea breeze front during CaPE. Part II: dual doppler and aircraft analysis . Mon. Wea. Rev . 123 , 944 – 969 .

[CIT0007] Atkinson , B. W . 1981 . Meso-Scale Atmospheric Circulations . Academic Press , London, UK , 496 pp .

[CIT0008] Bechtold , R , Pinty , J.-P. and Mascart , P . 1991 . A Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Large-Scale Winds on Sea-Breeze-and Inland-Breeze-type Circulations . J. Atmos. Sci . 30 , 1268 – 1279 .

[CIT0009] Estoque , M. A . 1962 . The sea breeze as a function of prevailing synoptic situation . J. Atmos. Sci . 19 , 244 – 250 .

[CIT0010] Fett , R. W. and Tag , P. M . 1984 . The sea-breeze-induced coastal calm zone as revealed by satellite data and simulated by a numerical model . Mon. Wea. Rev . 112 , 1226 – 1233 .

[CIT0011] Fisher , E. L . 1960 . An observational study of the sea breeze . J. Met . 17 , 645 – 660 .

[CIT0012] Frizzola , J. A. and Fisher , E. L . 1963 . A series of sea-breeze observations in the New York City area . J. AppL Met . 2 , 722 – 739 .

[CIT0013] Langland , R. H. , Tag , P. M. and Fett , R. W . 1987 . Numerical simulation of a satellite-observed calm zone in Monterey Bay, California . Wea. Forecast . 2 , 261 – 268 .

[CIT0014] Lyons , W. A. 1972 . The Climatology and Prediction of the Chicago Lake Breeze . J. AppL Meteor . 11 , 1259 – 1270 .

[CIT0015] Ohashi , Y. and Kida , H . 2002 . Effects of mountains and urban areas on daytime local-circulations in the Osaka and Kyoto regions . J. Met. Soc. Japan 80 , 539 – 560 .

[CIT0016] Pielke , R. A . 2002 . Mesoscale Meteorological Modelling 2nd Edition . Academic Press , San Diego .

[CIT0017] Savijärvi , H . 1995 . Sea breeze effects on large-scale atmospheric flow . Contr Atmos. Phys . 68 , 335 – 344 .

[CIT0018] Savijärvi , H . 1997 . Diurnal winds around Lake Tanganyika . Quart. J. Roy. Meteor Soc . 123 , 901 – 918 .

[CIT0019] Savijärvi , H . 2004 . Model predictions of coastal winds in a small scale . Tellus 56A , 287 – 295 .

[CIT0020] Savijärvi , H. and Alestalo , M . 1988 . The sea breeze over a lake or gulf as the function of the prevailing flow . Beitr Phys. Atmos . 61 , 98 – 104 .

[CIT0021] Savijärvi , H. and Matthews , S . 2004 . Flow over small heat islands: a numerical sensitivity study . J. Atmos. Sci . 61 , 859 – 868 .

[CIT0022] Savijärvi , H. , Niemeld , S. and Tisler , P . 2005 . Coastal winds and low-level jets: simulations for sea gulfs . Quart. J. Roy. Meteor Soc . 131 , 625 – 637 .

[CIT0023] Segal , M. , McNider , R. T. , Pielke , R. A. and McDougal , D. S . 1982 . A numerical model simulation of the regional air pollution meteorology of the Greater Chesapeake Bay area-summer day case study . Atmos. Environ . 16 , 1381 – 1397 .

[CIT0024] Stull , R. B . 1988 . An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology . Kluwer , Dordrecht , The Netherlands .

[CIT0025] Wexler , R . 1946 . Theory and observations of land and sea breezes . Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc . 27 , 272 – 287 .

[CIT0026] Yan , H. and Anthes , R. A . 1987 . The effect of latitude on the sea breeze . Mon. Wea. Rev . 115 , 936 – 956 .

Reading: The influence of synoptic scale flow on sea breeze induced surface winds and calm zones

Original Research Papers

The influence of synoptic scale flow on sea breeze induced surface winds and calm zones

Authors:

Martin Gahmberg,

Department of Physics, 00014 University of Helsinki; WB-Sails Inc., Helsinki, FI

X close

Hannu Savijärvi ,

Department of Physics, 00014 University of Helsinki, FI

X close

Matti Leskinen

Department of Physics, 00014 University of Helsinki, FI

X close

Abstract

References