Topic
Katabatic wind
About: Katabatic wind is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 888 publications have been published within this topic receiving 24619 citations. The topic is also known as: drainage wind & fall wind.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented the most up-to-date information about the physical environment of the Kongsfjord system and identified important gaps in knowledge, focusing on steep physical gradients along the main fjord axis, as well as seasonal environmental changes.
Abstract: Kongsfjorden-Krossfjorden and the adjacent West Spitsbergen Shelf meet at the common mouth of the two fjord arms. This paper presents our most up-to-date information about the physical environment of this fjord system and identifies important gaps in knowledge. Particular attention is given to the steep physical gradients along the main fjord axis, as well as to seasonal environmental changes. Physical processes on different scales control the large-scale circulation and small-scale (irreversible) mixing of water and its constituents. It is shown that, in addition to the tide, run-off (glacier ablation, snowmelt, summer rainfall and ice calving) and local winds are the main driving forces acting on the upper water masses in the fjord system. The tide is dominated by the semi-diurnal component and the freshwater supply shows a marked seasonal variation pattern and also varies interannually. The wind conditions are characterized by prevailing katabatic winds, which at times are strengthened by the geostrophic wind field over Svalbard. Rotational dynamics have a considerable influence on the circulation patterns within the fjord system and give rise to a strong interaction between the fjord arms. Such dynamics are also the main reason why variations in the shelf water density field, caused by remote forces (tide and coastal winds), propagate as a Kelvin wave into the fjord system. This exchange affects mainly the intermediate and deep water, which is also affected by vertical convection processes driven by cooling of the surface and brine release during ice formation in the inner reaches of the fjord arms. Further aspects covered by this paper include the geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Kongsfjorden area, climate and meteorology, the influence of glaciers, freshwater supply, sea ice conditions, sedimentation processes as well as underwater radiation conditions. The fjord system is assumed to be vulnerable to possible climate changes, and thus is very suitable as a site for the demonstration and investigation of phenomena related to climate change.
857 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented a network of seven valley floor automatic meteorological stations during the period 1986 to 2000, with mean annual temperatures ranging from −14.8°C to −30.0°C, depending on the site and period of measurement.
Abstract: [1] Climate observations from the McMurdo dry valleys, East Antarctica are presented from a network of seven valley floor automatic meteorological stations during the period 1986 to 2000. Mean annual temperatures ranged from −14.8°C to −30.0°C, depending on the site and period of measurement. Mean annual relative humidity is generally highest near the coast. Mean annual wind speed increases with proximity to the polar plateau. Site-to-site variation in mean annual solar flux and PAR is due to exposure of each station and changes over time are likely related to changes in cloudiness. During the nonsummer months, strong katabatic winds are frequent at some sites and infrequent at others, creating large variation in mean annual temperature owing to the warming effect of the winds. Katabatic wind exposure appears to be controlled to a large degree by the presence of colder air in the region that collects at low points and keeps the warm less dense katabatic flow from the ground. The strong influence of katabatic winds makes prediction of relative mean annual temperature based on geographical position (elevation and distance from the coast) alone, not possible. During the summer months, onshore winds dominate and warm as they progress through the valleys creating a strong linear relationship (r2 = 0.992) of increasing potential temperature with distance from the coast (0.09°C km−1). In contrast to mean annual temperature, summer temperature lends itself quite well to model predictions, and is used to construct a statistical model for predicting summer dry valley temperatures at unmonitored sites.
566 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report on time-averaged, near-surface airflow over the Antarctic continent during winter diagnosed from a recent, accurate synthesis of terrain slopes and from estimates of the lower atmospheric temperature structure.
Abstract: The intense radiative cooling of air over the ice slopes of Antarctica generates a surface wind regime that is strongly controlled by topography, and plays a key role in determining the behaviour of the atmosphere and ocean in high southern latitudes1–7. Resultant surface winds are intimately linked to the orientation of the ice terrain (Fig. 1) and display the highest degree of persistence found on Earth. The close coupling between wind and topography allows estimation of the former if the latter is known with some precision. Here we report on time-averaged, near-surface airflow over the Antarctic continent during winter diagnosed from a recent, accurate synthesis of terrain slopes and from estimates of the lower atmospheric temperature structure. The simulated drainage pat-tern exhibits strong spatial variability with the airflow concentrated into several zones near the coastal margin. These confluence regions are responsible for strong persistent katabatic winds over downstream coastal stretches and are indicative of zones of greatest katabatic potential.
348 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the spatial evolution of Antarctic katabatic winds in the area of Terra Nova Bay is examined using the three-dimensional version of the UCL-MAR mesoscale primitive equation models.
Abstract: The spatial evolution of Antarctic katabatic winds in the area of Terra Nova Bay is examined using the three-dimensional version of the Universite Catholique de Louvain-Modele Atmospherique Regional (UCL-MAR) mesoscale primitive equation models. The ability of the model to replicate classical linear mountain wave simulations is verified. Then, three-dimensional experiments are performed for the terrain configuration of Terra Nova (Ross Sea coastal zone) using different horizontal resolutions (5, 10, and 20 km). The model converges for resolutions lower than 10 km. Results are in qualitative agreement with available observations and previous modeling work. Strong katabatic winds are simulated with a jet over Terra Nova Bay. The model seems able to initiate the mesocyclonic activity in the Ross Sea due to the katabatic circulation.
317 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured 11 sites in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine its magnitude, its temporal changes, and spatial patterns, and found that annual values ranged from 3 to 50 mm water equivalent with the highest values nearest the coast and decreasing inland.
Abstract: Snowfall was measured at 11 sites in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine its magnitude, its temporal changes, and spatial patterns. Annual values ranged from 3 to 50 mm water equivalent with the highest values nearest the coast and decreasing inland. A particularly strong spatial gradient exists in Taylor Valley, probably resulting from local uplift conditions at the coastal margin and valley topography that limits migration inland. More snow occurs in winter near the coast, whereas inland no seasonal pattern is discernable. This may be due, again, to local uplift conditions, which are common in winter. We find no influence of the distance to the sea ice edge. Katabatic winds play an important role in transporting snow to the valley bottoms and essentially double the precipitation. That much of the snow accumulation sublimates prior to making a hydrologic contribution underscores the notion that the McMurdo Dry Valleys are indeed an extreme polar desert.
284 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2022 | 49 |
| 2021 | 22 |