Mountain Meteorology

Fr = (U / N Z)2

Mountain Meteorology explores the myriad ways in which complex terrain can interact with atmospheric phenomena. These processes range from synoptic scale fronts and waves, through mesoscale mountain-valley circulations and gravity waves, to individual convective cells. Scales of interest thus extend from a few meters for processes such as flow separation to thousands of kilometers for flow blocking or monsoons. Mountain meteorology plays a major role in weather forecasting and regional climate. Many areas of mountain meteorology remain relatively unexplored, including the flow fields in complex branching valleys and the role of modest mountains such as the Appalachians in producing mesoscale wind systems and triggering thunderstorms.

Field Experiments | Selected Publications

Field Experiments

Selected Publications

• Young, G.S., and J. Zawislak, 2006: An observational study of vortex spacing in island wake vortex streets. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 2285-2294. --- Abstract
• Winstead, N.S., B.A. Colle, N.A. Bond, G.S. Young, J. Olson, K.A. Loescher, F.M. Monaldo, D.R. Thompson, and W. Pichel, 2006: Using SAR Remote Sensing, Field Observations and Models to Better Understand Coastal Flows in the Gulf of Alaska. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 87, 797-800. --- Abstract
• Loescher, K.A., G.S. Young, B.A. Colle, and N.S. Winstead, 2006: Climatology of barrier jets along the Alaskan coast, Part 1: Spatial and temporal distributions. In press, Mon. Wea. Rev. --- Abstract
• Colle, B.A., Loescher, K.A., G.S. Young, and N.S. Winstead, 2006: Climatology of barrier jets along the Alaskan coast, Part II: Large-scale and sounding composites. In press, Mon. Wea. Rev. --- Abstract
• Winstead, N.S., and G.S. Young, 2000: An analysis of drainage flow exit jets over the Chesapeake Bay. J. Appl. Meteor., 39, 1269-1281. --- Abstract
• Arritt, R.W., J.M. Wilczak, and G.S. Young, 1992: Generation of elevated mixed layers by mesoscale boundary layer dynamics over complex terrain. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2870-2880. --- Abstract
• Johnson, R.H., G.S. Young, J.J. Toth and R.M. Zehr, 1984: Mesoscale weather effects of variable snow cover over northeast Colorado. Mon. Wea. Rev., 112, 1141-1152. --- Abstract
• Young, G.S., and R.H. Johnson, 1984: Meso- and microscale features of a Colorado cold front. J. Climate Appl. Meteor., 23, 1315-1325. --- Abstract
• Young, G.S., R.A. Pielke and R.C. Kessler, 1984: A comparison of the terrain height variance spectra of the Front Range with that of a hypothetical mountain. J. Atmos. Sci., 41, 1249-1250. --- Abstract
• Young, G.S., and R.A. Pielke, 1983: Application of terrain height variance spectra to mesoscale modeling. J. Atmos. Sci., 40, 2555-2560. --- Abstract