Orographic vortex: Difference between revisions
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<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">Atmospheric [[vortex]] or [[whirlwind]] produced by flow over or past mountains and other obstacles.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">Orographic vortices exist over a wide [[range]] of scales and orientations, from [[eddies]] of a few tens to a few hundreds of meters across, oriented in any direction, and shed by individual peaks or other topographic obstacles, to [[synoptic-scale]] cyclones, vertical vortices that form or intensify in the [[lee trough]] downwind of mountain-range scale barriers (<br/>''see'' [[lee cyclogenesis]]). Eddies of several hundred meters to a few tens of kilometers across (the larger scale representing approximately the scale of the mountain producing them) contribute to [[aircraft turbulence]] and enhance damage during [[downslope windstorm]] conditions. They often are the result of periodic shedding from the obstacle that produced them. Especially strong vertical vortices have been called "mountainadoes," indicating a resemblance to mountain tornadoes. Under strong convective heating conditions vortices spawned in the mountains sometimes continue [[downwind]] over the heated plains and participate in the initiation of [[dust devils]].</div><br/> </div> | <div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">Atmospheric [[vortex]] or [[whirlwind]] produced by flow over or past mountains and other obstacles.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">Orographic vortices exist over a wide [[range]] of scales and orientations, from [[eddies]] of a few tens to a few hundreds of meters across, oriented in any direction, and shed by individual peaks or other topographic obstacles, to [[synoptic scale|synoptic-scale]] cyclones, vertical vortices that form or intensify in the [[lee trough]] downwind of mountain-range scale barriers (<br/>''see'' [[lee cyclogenesis]]). Eddies of several hundred meters to a few tens of kilometers across (the larger scale representing approximately the scale of the mountain producing them) contribute to [[aircraft turbulence]] and enhance damage during [[downslope windstorm]] conditions. They often are the result of periodic shedding from the obstacle that produced them. Especially strong vertical vortices have been called "mountainadoes," indicating a resemblance to mountain tornadoes. Under strong convective heating conditions vortices spawned in the mountains sometimes continue [[downwind]] over the heated plains and participate in the initiation of [[dust devils]].</div><br/> </div> | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:33, 25 April 2012
orographic vortex
Orographic vortices exist over a wide range of scales and orientations, from eddies of a few tens to a few hundreds of meters across, oriented in any direction, and shed by individual peaks or other topographic obstacles, to synoptic-scale cyclones, vertical vortices that form or intensify in the lee trough downwind of mountain-range scale barriers (
see lee cyclogenesis). Eddies of several hundred meters to a few tens of kilometers across (the larger scale representing approximately the scale of the mountain producing them) contribute to aircraft turbulence and enhance damage during downslope windstorm conditions. They often are the result of periodic shedding from the obstacle that produced them. Especially strong vertical vortices have been called "mountainadoes," indicating a resemblance to mountain tornadoes. Under strong convective heating conditions vortices spawned in the mountains sometimes continue downwind over the heated plains and participate in the initiation of dust devils.
see lee cyclogenesis). Eddies of several hundred meters to a few tens of kilometers across (the larger scale representing approximately the scale of the mountain producing them) contribute to aircraft turbulence and enhance damage during downslope windstorm conditions. They often are the result of periodic shedding from the obstacle that produced them. Especially strong vertical vortices have been called "mountainadoes," indicating a resemblance to mountain tornadoes. Under strong convective heating conditions vortices spawned in the mountains sometimes continue downwind over the heated plains and participate in the initiation of dust devils.
