Effects of moist Froude number and CAPE on a conditionally unstable flow over a mesoscale mountain ridge

Abstract

In this study, idealized simulations are performed for a conditionally unstable flow over a two-dimensional mountain ridge in order to investigate the propagation and types of cloud precipitation systems controlled by the unsaturated moist Fronde number (Fw.) and the convective available potential energy (CAPE). A two-dimensional moist flow regime diagram, based on Fw and CAPE, is proposed for a conditionally unstable flow passing over a two-dimensional mesoscale mountain ridge. The characteristics of these flow regimes are 1) regime I: flow with an upstream-propagating convective system and an early, slowly moving convective system over the mountain; 2) regime II: flow with a long-lasting orographic convective system over the mountain peak, upslope, or lee slope; 3) regime III: Flow with an orographic convective or mixed convective and stratiform precipitation system over the mountain and a downstream-propagating convective system; and 4) regime IV: flow with an orographic stratiform precipitation system over the mountain and possibly a downstream-propagating cloud system. Note that the fourth regime was not included in the flow regimes proposed by Chu and Lin and Chen and Lin. The propagation of the convective systems is explained by the orographic blocking and density current forcing associated with the cold-air outflow produced by evaporative cooling acting against the basic flow, which then determines the propagation and cloud types of the simulated precipitation systems. © 2005 American Meteorological Society.