The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling
Strong nocturnal downvalley winds can often be observed in the Isar Valley near Mittenwald (Bavarian Alps) under the influence of high pressure systems over Central Europe or in the presence of ambient southerly winds. The properties of this downvalley wind are similar to the Alpine foehn, bringing...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Borntraeger
2004-02-01
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| Series: | Meteorologische Zeitschrift |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2004/0013-0025 |
| _version_ | 1797320730592935936 |
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| author | Matthias Hornsteiner Günther Zängl |
| author_facet | Matthias Hornsteiner Günther Zängl |
| author_sort | Matthias Hornsteiner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Strong nocturnal downvalley winds can often be observed in the Isar Valley near Mittenwald (Bavarian Alps) under the influence of high pressure systems over Central Europe or in the presence of ambient southerly winds. The properties of this downvalley wind are similar to the Alpine foehn, bringing about a pronounced increase in temperature and a concomitant decrease in relative humidity. We will therefore refer to this wind as "mini-foehn". Measurements with automatic surface stations as well as numerical simulations with the MM5 model show that the mini-foehn is a part of the strong nocturnal drainage flow in the adjacent Leutasch Valley in Tyrol. This flow is driven by the temperature difference between the nearby plateau of Seefeld and the free atmosphere above Mittenwald, lying some 250 m below Seefeld. The foehn effect arises from the fact that the cold low-level air leaves the Leutasch Valley through a narrow gorge while potentially warmer air from higher levels reaches Mittenwald via a small mountain ridge. A second jet-like downvalley wind is found in the Isar Valley between Scharnitz and Mittenwald. The temperature of this air mass is usually lower than that of the Leutasch Valley jet, leading to pronounced temperature contrasts around Mittenwald. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:47:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e90ba8bd74254f7b8d2a73f1d6ad679c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0941-2948 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:47:13Z |
| publishDate | 2004-02-01 |
| publisher | Borntraeger |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Meteorologische Zeitschrift |
| spelling | doaj.art-e90ba8bd74254f7b8d2a73f1d6ad679c2024-02-08T08:41:11ZengBorntraegerMeteorologische Zeitschrift0941-29482004-02-01131253110.1127/0941-2948/2004/0013-002553063The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modellingMatthias HornsteinerGünther ZänglStrong nocturnal downvalley winds can often be observed in the Isar Valley near Mittenwald (Bavarian Alps) under the influence of high pressure systems over Central Europe or in the presence of ambient southerly winds. The properties of this downvalley wind are similar to the Alpine foehn, bringing about a pronounced increase in temperature and a concomitant decrease in relative humidity. We will therefore refer to this wind as "mini-foehn". Measurements with automatic surface stations as well as numerical simulations with the MM5 model show that the mini-foehn is a part of the strong nocturnal drainage flow in the adjacent Leutasch Valley in Tyrol. This flow is driven by the temperature difference between the nearby plateau of Seefeld and the free atmosphere above Mittenwald, lying some 250 m below Seefeld. The foehn effect arises from the fact that the cold low-level air leaves the Leutasch Valley through a narrow gorge while potentially warmer air from higher levels reaches Mittenwald via a small mountain ridge. A second jet-like downvalley wind is found in the Isar Valley between Scharnitz and Mittenwald. The temperature of this air mass is usually lower than that of the Leutasch Valley jet, leading to pronounced temperature contrasts around Mittenwald.http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2004/0013-0025 |
| spellingShingle | Matthias Hornsteiner Günther Zängl The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling Meteorologische Zeitschrift |
| title | The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling |
| title_full | The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling |
| title_fullStr | The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling |
| title_short | The "Mini-foehn" of Mittenwald- A comparison of measurements and modelling |
| title_sort | mini foehn of mittenwald a comparison of measurements and modelling |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2004/0013-0025 |
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