TY - JOUR
T1 - Boundary-Layer Flow Over Complex Topography
AU - Finnigan, John
AU - Ayotte, Keith
AU - Harman, Ian
AU - Katul, Gabriel
AU - Oldroyd, Holly
AU - Patton, Edward
AU - Poggi, Davide
AU - Ross, Andrew
AU - Taylor, Peter
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Nature B.V.
PY - 2020/12/1
Y1 - 2020/12/1
N2 - We review developments in the field of boundary-layer flow over complex topography, focussing on the period from 1970 to the present day. The review follows two parallel strands: the impact of hills on flow in the atmospheric boundary layer and gravity-driven flows on hill slopes initiated by heating or cooling of the surface. For each strand we consider the understanding that has resulted from analytic theory before moving to more realistic numerical computation, initially using turbulence closure models and, more recently, eddy-resolving schemes. Next we review the field experiments and the physical models that have contributed to present understanding in both strands. For the period 1970–2000 with hindsight we can link major advances in theory and modelling to the key papers that announced them, but for the last two decades we have cast the net wider to ensure that we have not missed steps that eventually will be seen as critical. Two important new themes are given prominence in the 2000–2020 period. The first is flow over hills covered with tall plant canopies. The presence of a canopy changes the flow in important ways both when the flow is nearly neutral and also when it is stably stratified, forming a link between our two main strands.The second is the use of eddy-resolving models as vehicles to bring together hill flows and gravity-driven flows in a unified description of complex terrain meteorology.
AB - We review developments in the field of boundary-layer flow over complex topography, focussing on the period from 1970 to the present day. The review follows two parallel strands: the impact of hills on flow in the atmospheric boundary layer and gravity-driven flows on hill slopes initiated by heating or cooling of the surface. For each strand we consider the understanding that has resulted from analytic theory before moving to more realistic numerical computation, initially using turbulence closure models and, more recently, eddy-resolving schemes. Next we review the field experiments and the physical models that have contributed to present understanding in both strands. For the period 1970–2000 with hindsight we can link major advances in theory and modelling to the key papers that announced them, but for the last two decades we have cast the net wider to ensure that we have not missed steps that eventually will be seen as critical. Two important new themes are given prominence in the 2000–2020 period. The first is flow over hills covered with tall plant canopies. The presence of a canopy changes the flow in important ways both when the flow is nearly neutral and also when it is stably stratified, forming a link between our two main strands.The second is the use of eddy-resolving models as vehicles to bring together hill flows and gravity-driven flows in a unified description of complex terrain meteorology.
KW - Boundary-layer meteorology
KW - Complex topography
KW - Gravity-driven flows
KW - Turbulence
KW - Turbulence modelling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091516641&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10546-020-00564-3
DO - 10.1007/s10546-020-00564-3
M3 - Article
SN - 0006-8314
VL - 177
SP - 247
EP - 313
JO - Boundary-Layer Meteorology
JF - Boundary-Layer Meteorology
IS - 2-3
ER -