Formation and diurnal variation of the dryline

Abstract

The formation and diurnal evolution of the dryline during fair weather have been investigated through the use of a two-dimensional mesoscale model that includes condensation/evaporation, budget equations of surface energy and moisture field, as well as turbulence and radiation parameterizations. A moderately strong, vertical wind shear was introduced on a sloping terrain, where the soil is very dry on the west side but moist on the east. Initially, a weak easterly geostrophic wind exists to the east but a weak westerly geostrophic wind to the west of the dryline. During daytime, deepening of the mixed layer due to vertical mixing, especially on the west side, forces the dryline to advance eastward. The westerly wind on the west side is maintained by downward transport of westerly momentum due to strong vertical mixing; the easterly wind on the east side is strengthened due to the inland sea-breeze circulation. Therefore, the resulting low-level convergence sustains a strong moisture gradient along the dryline. -from Authors