The Peñalara Mountain Meteorological Network (1999–2014): Description, Preliminary Results and Lessons Learned

Durán, Luis; Rodríguez-Muñoz, Irene; Sánchez, Enrique

doi:10.3390/atmos8100203

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…saihhebro.com. We also used an SD sensor in the Central System mountain range (Durán et al, 2017), which is from the National Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET). We projected the meteorological variables from the WRF simulation to elevations of the different telenivometers for simulations.…”

Section: Validation Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily gridded datasets of snow depth and snow water equivalent for the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014

Alonso‐González

López‐Moreno

Gascoin

et al. 2018

Earth Syst. Sci. Data

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We present snow observations and a validated daily gridded snowpack dataset that was simulated from downscaled reanalysis of data for the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula has long-lasting seasonal snowpacks in its different mountain ranges, and winter snowfall occurs in most of its area. However, there are only limited direct observations of snow depth (SD) and snow water equivalent (SWE), making it difficult to analyze snow dynamics and the spatiotemporal patterns of snowfall. We used meteorological data from downscaled reanalyses as input of a physically based snow energy balance model to simulate SWE and SD over the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014. More specifically, the ERA-Interim reanalysis was downscaled to 10 km × 10 km resolution using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The WRF outputs were used directly, or as input to other submodels, to obtain data needed to drive the Factorial Snow Model (FSM). We used lapse rate coefficients and hygrobarometric adjustments to simulate snow series at 100 m elevations bands for each 10 km × 10 km grid cell in the Iberian Peninsula. The snow series were validated using data from MODIS satellite sensor and ground observations. The overall simulated snow series accurately reproduced the interannual variability of snowpack and the spatial variability of snow accumulation and melting, even in very complex topographic terrains. Thus, the presented dataset may be useful for many applications, including land management, hydrometeorological studies, phenology of flora and fauna, winter tourism, and risk management. The data presented here are freely available for download from Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.854618). This paper fully describes the work flow, data validation, uncertainty assessment, and possible applications and limitations of the database.

show abstract

Section: Validation Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily gridded datasets of snow depth and snow water equivalent for the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014

Alonso‐González

López‐Moreno

Gascoin

et al. 2018

Earth Syst. Sci. Data

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…La Herrería tower is part of the Guadarrama Monitoring Network (GuMNet, GuMNet (2018)), which aims at providing observational meteorological and climatological records to deepen into scientific research in the mountainous area of Sierra de Guadarrama (Durán et al, 2018). We record data from aspirated thermometers, cup anemometers, a wind vane and IRGASON devices among others in a 10-m high fixed tower.…”

Section: Data: Meteorological Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weak and intense katabatic winds: impacts on turbulent characteristics in the stable boundary layer and CO2 transport

Arrillaga

Yagüe

Román‐Cascón

et al. 2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The role of thermally-driven local downslope or katabatic flows in the dynamics and turbulent features of the stable boundary layer (SBL) is investigated using observations. Measurements are carried out in a relatively flat area 2-km away from the steep slopes of the Guadarrama Mountain Range (Spain). Forty katabatic events are selected from an observational database spanning the 2017-summer period, by using an objective and systematic algorithm that is able to account for local and synoptic forcings. We subsequently classify the katabatic events into weak, moderate and intense according to the observed maximum wind speed. This classification enables us to contrast the main differences in dynamics and thermal structure. We find that the stronger katabatic events are associated with an earlier onset time of these flows. We relate it to very low soil-moisture values (<&#8201;0.07&#8201;m3&#8201;m&#8722;3, i.e. smaller than the median during the analysed period) and a weak synoptic wind (V850&#8201;<&#8201;6&#8201;m&#8201;s&#8722;1) having the same direction as the katabatic. The relative flatness of the area favours the formation of very stable boundary layers characterized by a longwave radiative cooling of around 60&#8211;70&#8201;W&#8201;m&#8722;2 and very weak turbulence (friction velocity (u*)&#8201;<&#8201;0.1&#8201;m&#8201;s&#8722;1). They occur when katabatics are weak, and are occasionally associated with the formation of skin flows, that are manifested as weak jets (U&#8201;<&#8201;1&#8201;m&#8201;s&#8722;1) at 3&#8201;m. Intense katabatics, instead, are characterised by a strong and increasing bulk shear (the maximum u* is close to 1&#8201;m&#8201;s&#8722;1) that avoids the development of the surface-based thermal inversion, giving rise to the so-called weakly stable boundary layer. We identify the transition between the two regimes for a threshold katabatic wind speed of around 1.5&#8201;m&#8201;s&#8722;1, in agreement with the hockey-stick transition hypothesis. Our analysis is extended by calculating non-dimensional numbers to characterize the transition: the shear capacity, the bulk Richardson number and z/L. On the other hand, by inspecting individual weak and intense events, we further explore the interaction between katabatic flows and turbulence, and the impact on CO2 concentration. By relating the dynamics of the two regimes with the CO2 budget, we are able to estimate the contribution of the different terms. For the intense event, indeed, we infer a horizontal transport of 67&#8201;ppm in 3&#8201;h driven by the katabatic advection.

show abstract

“…The latter is closely linked to the turbulent characteristics of the stable boundary layer (SBL) and the variability of CO 2 . Several external factors have been documented to affect these downslope winds: the steepness of the slope and the distance to the mountain range (Horst and Doran, 1986), the canopy layer (Sun et al, 2007), spatial variations in soil moisture (Banta and Gannon, 1995;Jensen et al, 2017) and the direction and intensity of the synoptic wind (Fitzjarrald, 1984;Doran, 1991). However, most of the investigations analysing the influence of those external factors are carried out using numerical simulations, and there is a lack of observational studies to validate them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a matter of fact, Sastre et al (2015) showed with a numerical experiment at contrasting sites that soil-moisture differences do not affect the afternoon and evening transition values with the same intensity but depend on the site. With respect to the background flow, by using a one-dimensional model, Fitzjarrald (1984) observed that the onset time of katabatic winds is affected by the retarding effect of the opposing synoptic flow and reduced cooling rates. Jiménez et al 2019found that moderate background winds in the direction of the thermally driven flow enhance the latter by adding a dynamical component.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From weak to intense downslope winds: origin, interaction with boundary-layer turbulence and impact on CO2 variability

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The interconnection of local downslope flows of different intensities with the turbulent characteristics and thermal structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is investigated through observations. Measurements are carried out in a relatively flat area 2 km away from the steep slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama (central Iberian Peninsula). A total of 40 thermally driven downslope events are selected from an observational database spanning the summer 2017 period by using an objective and systematic algorithm that accounts for a weak synoptic forcing and local downslope wind direction. We subsequently classify the downslope events into weak, moderate and intense categories, according to their maximum 6 m wind speed. This classification enables us to contrast their main differences regarding the driving mechanisms, associated ABL turbulence and thermal structure, and the major dynamical characteristics. We find that the strongest downslope flows (U > 3.5 m s−1) develop when soil moisture is low ( < 0.07 m3 m−3) and the synoptic wind not so weak (3.5 m s−1 < V850 < 6 m s−1) and roughly parallel to the direction of the downslope flow. The latter adds an important dynamical input, which induces an early flow advection from the nearby steep slope, when the local thermal profile is not stable yet. Consequently, turbulence driven by the bulk shear increases up to friction velocity (u*) ≃ 1 m s−1, preventing the development of the surface-based thermal inversion and giving rise to the so-called weakly stable boundary layer. On the contrary, when the dynamical input is absent, buoyancy acceleration drives the formation of a katabatic flow, which is weak (U < 1.5 m s−1) and generally manifested in the form of a shallow jet below 3 m. The relative flatness of the area favours the formation of very stable boundary layers marked by very weak turbulence (u* < 0.1 m s−1). In between, moderate downslope flows show intermediate characteristics, depending on the strength of the dynamical input and the occasional interaction with down-basin winds. On the other hand, by inspecting individual weak and intense events, we further explore the impact of downslope flows on CO2 variability. By relating the dynamics of the distinct turbulent regimes to the CO2 budget, we are able to estimate the contribution of the different terms. For the intense event, indeed, we infer a horizontal transport of 67 ppm in 3 h driven by the strong downslope advection.

show abstract

The Peñalara Mountain Meteorological Network (1999–2014): Description, Preliminary Results and Lessons Learned

Cited by 16 publications

References 52 publications

Daily gridded datasets of snow depth and snow water equivalent for the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014

Daily gridded datasets of snow depth and snow water equivalent for the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014

Weak and intense katabatic winds: impacts on turbulent characteristics in the stable boundary layer and CO<sub>2</sub> transport

From weak to intense downslope winds: origin, interaction with boundary-layer turbulence and impact on CO<sub>2</sub> variability

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

The Peñalara Mountain Meteorological Network (1999–2014): Description, Preliminary Results and Lessons Learned

Cited by 16 publications

References 52 publications

Daily gridded datasets of snow depth and snow water equivalent for the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014

Daily gridded datasets of snow depth and snow water equivalent for the Iberian Peninsula from 1980 to 2014

Weak and intense katabatic winds: impacts on turbulent characteristics in the stable boundary layer and CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; transport

From weak to intense downslope winds: origin, interaction with boundary-layer turbulence and impact on CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; variability

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Weak and intense katabatic winds: impacts on turbulent characteristics in the stable boundary layer and CO<sub>2</sub> transport

From weak to intense downslope winds: origin, interaction with boundary-layer turbulence and impact on CO<sub>2</sub> variability