Observations and Simulations of a Breaking Mountain Wave Associated with an Aircraft Accident Induced by Clear-Air Turbulence


F. M. Ralph, P. J. Neiman, D. Levinson (CIRES), W. D. Hall (NCAR), T. L. Clark (NCAR), A. Marroquin (CIRA), S. G. Benjamin

Figure 9. Temporal evolution of the mountain wave environment based on combined wind (isotachs; grey, dashed, m s-1) and virtual potential temperature (solid, K, [dashed are estimated]) profiles from 404- and 50-MHz wind profilers with RASS at Platteville, CO. A 35 m s-1 downslope windstorm occurred in Boulder from 1100-1600 UTC when the cross-mountain winds and static stability near mountain top (4 km MSL) strengthened, and while the vertical wind shear above mountain top was very weak, i.e., before the arrival of the upper-level jet.
ETL / Review / Observations and Simulations of a Breaking Mountain Wave Associated with an Aircraft Accident Induced by Clear-Air Turbulence / Figure: Introduction, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, Conclusion