Some Wind Characteristics over Complex Terrain

Abstract

Airflow characteristics in neutral conditions over two kinds of complex terrain are compared: on hill tops, and over land, downstream of water. In spite of the large differences in the dynamical characteristics, several similarities emerge: logarithmic wind profiles with large shear near the surface, in spite of vertically decreasing stress; weaker wind shears above, and agreement between surface stresses inferred from wind profiles with Reynolds stresses extrapolated downward. Also, in both cases, dissipation is locally balanced by mechanical energy production.