Sea-surface temperature effects on 3D bora-like flow

Abstract

A COAMPS (TM) nonhydrostatic numerical model with a higher order turbulence closure scheme is used to study the effect of the sea-surface temperature (SST) on the idealized nonlinear flow over an idealized mountain in the presence of rotation. The low-level jet (LLJ) that develops at both flanks of the mountain is intensified by the Coriolis effect on the northern flank for a westerly flow. Shooting flow develops down the slope ending over the sea while resembling a hydraulic jump. This is considered as bora (bura) like flow. The front is related to the abrupt slowdown of the shooting flow through the hydraulic jump. Seven different idealized cases are addressed, the control run, nearly linear case with Fr = 1.2, and the cases with the SST 10 K colder, and 2.5 K, 5 K, 7.5 K and 10 K warmer than the control run. The maximum wind speeds in the shooting flow and the LLJs are around two times higher than the background wind speeds. The interplay of SST effects and the effects of the asymmetric lee-side vortices modify the location and the shape of the bora front which is found not to be parallel with the shoreline. The front is not stationary in time but exhibits vibrations which are more pronounced at the southern flank associated with the weaker LLJ.