Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/was.2017.24.6.613

Characteristics of downslope winds in the Liguria Region  

Burlando, Massimiliano (Department of Civil, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa)
Tizzi, Marco (Department of Civil, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa)
Solari, Giovanni (Department of Civil, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa)
Publication Information
Wind and Structures / v.24, no.6, 2017 , pp. 613-635 More about this Journal
Abstract
Strong downslope windstorms often occur in the Liguria Region. This part of North-Western Italy is characterised by an almost continuous mountain range along its West-East axis consisting of Maritime Alps and Apennines, which separate the Padan Plain to the North from the Mediterranean Sea to the South. Along this mountain range many valleys occur, frequently perpendicular to the mountain range axis, where strong gap flows sometimes develop from the top of the mountains ridge to the sea. In the framework of the European projects "Wind and Ports" and "Wind, Ports, and Sea", an anemometric monitoring network made up of 15 (ultra)sonic anemometric stations and 2 LiDARs has been realised in the three main commercial ports of Liguria. Thanks to this network two investigations are herein carried out. First, the wind climatology and the main statistical parameters of one Liguria valley have been studied through the analysis of the measurements taken along a period of 4 years by the anemometer placed at its southern exit. Then, the main characteristics of two strong gap flows that occurred in two distinct valley of Liguria are examined. Both these studies focus, on the one hand, on the climatological and meteorological characterisation of the downslope wind events and, on the other hand, on their most relevant quantities that can affect wind engineering problems.
Keywords
downslope winds; Alps and Apennines; (ultra)sonic anemometric measurements; LiDAR measurements; Liguria Region;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 4  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Burlando, M., De Gaetano, P., Pizzo, M., Repetto, M.P., Solari, G., Tizzi, M. and Bonino, G. (2015), "The European project Wind, Ports, and Sea", Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Wind Engineering, June 21-26, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
2 Castino, F., Rusca, L. and Solari, G. (2003), "Wind climate micro-zoning: a pilot application to Liguria Region (North Western Italy)", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 91, 1353-1375.   DOI
3 Chen, X. and Huang, G. (2010), "Estimation of probabilistic extreme wind load effects: combination of aerodynamic and wind climate data", J. Eng. Mech.-ASCE, 136, 747-760.   DOI
4 Clark, T.L. and Peltier, W.R. (1977), "On the evolution and stability of finite-amplitude mountain waves", J. Atmos. Sci., 34, 1715-1730.   DOI
5 CNR-DT 207/2008 (2010), Guide for the assessment of wind actions and effects on structures, National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
6 Corby, G.A. (1954), "The airflow over mountains-A review of the state of current knowledge", Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 80, 491-521.   DOI
7 De Gaetano, P., Repetto, M.P., Repetto, T. and Solari, G. (2014), "Separation and classification of extreme wind events from anemometric records", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 126, 132-143.   DOI
8 Defant, F. (1951), "Local winds", in Compendium of Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 655-672.
9 Doran, J.C. and Horst, T.W. (1981), "Velocity and temperature oscillations in drainage winds", J. Appl. Meteorol., 20, 361-364.   DOI
10 Durran, D.R. (1990), "Mountain waves and downslope winds", in Atmospheric Processes Over Complex Terrain, W. Blumen (Ed.), Meteorological Monograph, 23(45), Am. Meteorol. Soc., Boston, Massachusetts, 59-81.
11 Fleagle, R.G. (1950), "A theory of air drainage", J. Meteor., 7, 227-232.   DOI
12 Engineering Sciences Data Unit (1993), "Computer program for wind speeds and turbulence properties: flat or hill sites in terrain with roughness changes", ESDU Item 92032, London, U.K.
13 EUMETSAT (2013) "MTG-FCI: ATBD for Cloud Mask and Cloud Analysis Product", Technical Report EUM/MTG/DOC/10/0542, Eumetsat.
14 Eurocode 1 (2005) Actions on structures-General actions. Part 1-4: Wind actions, CEN, EN 1991-1-4:2005
15 Frehlich, R. and Kelley, N. (2008), "Measurements of wind and turbulence profiles with scanning doppler lidar for wind energy applications", IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 1(1), 42-47.   DOI
16 Gomes, L. and Vickery, B.J. (1977), "On the prediction of extreme wind speed from the parent distribution", J Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 2, 21-36.   DOI
17 Gomes, L. and Vickery, B.J. (1977, 1978), "Extreme wind speeds in mixed climates", J. Ind. Aerod., 2, 331-344.   DOI
18 Grubisic, V. and Lewis, J.M. (2004), "Sierra Wave Project Revisited: 50 Years Later", Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 85, 1127-1142.   DOI
19 Harris, R.I. and Cook, N.J. (2014), "The parent wind speed distribution: Why Weibull?", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 131, 72-87.   DOI
20 Gumbel, E.J. (1954), Statistical theory of extreme values and some practical applications, Applied Mathematics Series 33 (1st Ed.), U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards.
21 Hoaglin, D.C., Mostaller, F. and Tukey, J.W. (1983), Understanding robust and exploratory data analysis, Wiley, New York.
22 IEA (2013), "Ground-based vertically-profiling remote sensing for wind resource assessment", Technical Report IEA Wind RP 15, International Energy Agency.
23 Kareem, A. (1990), "Reliability analysis of wind-sensitive structures", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 33, 495-514.   DOI
24 Klemp, J.B. and Lilly, D.K. (1975), "The dynamics of wave-induced downslope winds", J. Atmos. Sci., 32, 320-339.   DOI
25 Kozmar, H., Butler, K. and Kareem, A. (2015), "Downslope gusty wind loading of vehicles on bridges", J. Bridge Eng., 20(11), 04015008.   DOI
26 Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M., Retief, J.V. and Sekele, S.S. (2012), "Clustering of extreme winds in the mixed climate of South Africa", Wind Struct., 15(2), 87-109.   DOI
27 Kwon, S.D. (2009), "Uncertainty analysis of wind energy potential assessment", Appl. Energy, 87, 856-865.
28 Lilly, D.K. (1978), "A severe downslope windstorm and aircraft turbulence event induced by a mountain wave", J. Atmos. Sci., 35, 59-77.   DOI
29 Lagomarsino, S., Piccardo, G. and Solari, G. (1992), "Statistical analysis of high return period wind speeds", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 41, 485-496.   DOI
30 Lee, T.J., Pielke, R.A., Kessler, R.C. and Weaver, J. (1989), "Influence of Cold Pools Downstream of Mountain Barriers on Downslope Winds and Flushing", Mon. Weather. Rev., 117, 2041-2058.   DOI
31 NWC SAF (2013) "Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for Cloud Products", Technical Report SAF/NWC/CDOP2/MFL/SCI/ATBD/01, NWC SAF, Meteo France.
32 Lilly, D.K. and Zipser, E.J. (1972), "The front range windstorm of 11 January 1972-a meteorological narrative", Weatherwise, 25, 56-63.   DOI
33 Lombardo, F.T., Main, J.A. and Simiu, E. (2009), "Automated extraction and classification of thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm wind data for extreme-value analysis", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 97, 120-131.   DOI
34 Lu, H.C. and Fang, G.C. (2002), "Estimating the frequency distributions of PM10 and PM2.5 by the statistics of wind speed at Sha-Lu, Taiwan", Sci. Total Environ., 298, 119-130.   DOI
35 Meyers, M.P., Snook, J.S., Wesley, D.A. and Poulos, G.S. (2003), "A rocky mountain storm. Part II: The forest blowdown over the west slope of the northern colorado mountains-observations, analysis, and modeling", Weather Forecast., 18, 662-674.   DOI
36 Neiman, P.J., Hardesty, R.M., Shapiro, M.A. and Cupp, R.E. (1988), "Doppler lidar observations of a downslope windstorm", Mon. Weather Rev., 116, 2265-2275.   DOI
37 Pagnini, L.C. and Solari, G. (1998), "Serviceability criteria for wind-induced acceleration and damping uncertainties", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 74-76, 1067-1078.   DOI
38 Pagnini, L.C., Burlando, M. and Repetto, M.P. (2015), "Experimental power curve of small-size wind turbines in turbulent urban environment", Appl. Energy, 154, 112-121.   DOI
39 Peltier, W.R. and Clark, T.L. (1979), "On the evolution and stability of finite-amplitude mountain waves. Part II: surface wave drag and severe downslope windstorms", J. Atmos. Sci., 36, 1498-1529.   DOI
40 Pena, A., Hasager, C.B., Gryning, S.E., Courtney, M., Antoniou, I., Mikkelsen, T. (2009), "Offshore wind profiling using light detection and ranging measurements", Wind Energy, 12, 105-124.   DOI
41 Romanic, D., Ćuric, M., Lompar, M. and Jovicic, I. (2016a), "Contributing factors to Koshava wind characteristics", Int. J. Climatol., 36, 956-973.   DOI
42 Poulos, G.S., Bossert, J.E., McKee, T.B. and Pielke, R.A. (2000), "The interaction of Katabatic flow and mountain waves. Part I: observations and idealized simulations", J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 1919-1936.   DOI
43 Princevac, M., Hunt, J.C.R. and Fernando, H.J.S. (2008), "Quasi-steady Katabatic winds on slopes in wide valleys: Hydraulic theory and observations", J. Atmos. Sci., 65,627-643.   DOI
44 Repetto, M.P. and Solari, G. (2010), "Wind-induced fatigue collapse of real slender structures", Eng. Struct., 32, 3888-3898.   DOI
45 Romanic, D., Ćuric, M., Zaric, M., Lompar, M. and Jovicic, I. (2016b), "Investigation of an extreme Koshava wind episode of 30 January-4 February 2014", Atmos. Sci. Lett., 17, 199-206.   DOI
46 Smith, R.B. (1979), "The influence of mountains on the atmosphere", Adv. Geophys., 21, 87-230.
47 Sathe, A. and Mann, J. (2013), "A review of turbulence measurements using ground-based wind lidars", Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 3147-3167.   DOI
48 Sathe, A., Mann, J., Gottschall, J. and Courtney, M.S. (2011), "Can wind lidars measure turbulence?", J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 28, 853-868.   DOI
49 Smith, D.A., Harris, M. and Coffey, A.S. (2006), "Wind Lidar evaluation at the Danish wind test site in Hovsore", Wind Energy, 9, 87-93.   DOI
50 Smith, R.B. (1985), "On severe downslope winds", J. Atmos. Sci., 42(23), 2597-2603.   DOI
51 Smith, R.B. (1987), "Aerial observations of the Yugoslavian Bora", J. Atmos. Sci., 44(2), 269-297.   DOI
52 Smith, R.B., Doyle, J.D., Jiang, Q. and Smith, S.A. (2007), "Alpine gravity waves: Lessons from MAP regarding mountain wave generation and breaking", Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 133, 917-936.   DOI
53 Solari, G., Burlando, M., De Gaetano, P., Repetto, M.P. (2015), "Characteristics of thunderstorms relevant to the wind loading of structures", Wind Struct., 20(6), 763-791.   DOI
54 Solari, G. (1996a), "Wind speed statistic", in Modelling of Atmospheric Flow Fields, (Eds., Lalas D.P. and Ratto C.F.), World Scientific, Singapore.
55 Solari, G. (1996b), "Statistical analysis of extreme wind speeds", in Modelling of atmospheric flow fields, (Eds., Lalas D.P. and Ratto C.F. ), World Scientific, Singapore.
56 Solari, G. (2014), "Emerging issues and new frameworks for wind loading on structures in mixed climates", Wind Struct., 19(3), 295-320.   DOI
57 Torrielli, A., Repetto, M.P. and Solari, G. (2013), "Extreme wind speeds from long-term synthetic records", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 115, 22-38.   DOI
58 Solari, G., Repetto, M.P., Burlando, M., De Gaetano, P., Pizzo, M., Tizzi, M. and Parodi, M. (2012), "The wind forecast for safety management of port areas", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 104-106, 266-277.   DOI
59 Sterling, M., Baker, C.J., Richards, P.J., Hoxey, R.P., Quinn, A.D. (2006), "An investigation of the wind statistics and extreme gust events at a rural site", Wind Struct., 9(3), 193-215.   DOI
60 Takle, E.S., Brown, J.M. (1978), "Note on the use of Weibull statistics to characterize wind speed data", J. Appl. Meteorol., 17, 556-559.   DOI
61 Solari, G. (1993), "Gust buffeting. I: peak wind velocity and equivalent pressure", J. Struct. Eng.-ASCE, 119, 365-382.   DOI
62 Torrielli, A., Repetto, M.P. and Solari, G. (2014). "A refined analysis and simulation of the wind speed macro-meteorological components", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 132, 54-65.   DOI
63 Trigo, I.F., Bigg, G.R. and Davies, T.D. (2002), "Climatology of cyclogenesis mechanisms in the mediterranean", Mon. Weather. Rev., 130, 549-569.   DOI
64 Xu, Q., Gao, S. and Fiedler, B.H. (1996), "A theoretical study of cold air damming with upstream cold air flow", J. Atmos. Sci., 53(2), 312-326.   DOI
65 Wagner, R., Mikkelsen, T. and Courtney, M. (2009), "Investigation of turbulence measurements with a continuous wave, conically scanning Lidar", Technical Report Riso-R-1682(EN), Riso National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde, Denmark.
66 Weibull, W. (1951), "A statistical distribution function of wide applicability", J. Appl. Mech., 18, 293-297.
67 Whiteman, C.D. (2000), Mountain Meteorology: Fundamentals and Applications, Oxford University Press, New York.
68 Whiteman, C.D. and Zhong, S. (2008), "Downslope flows on a low-angle slope and their interactions with valley inversions. Part I: observations", J. Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 47, 2023-2038.   DOI
69 Wilczak, J.M., Gossard, E.E., Neff, W.D. and Eberhard, W.L. (1996), "Ground-based remote sensing of the atmospheric boundary layer: 25 years of progress", Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 78, 321-349.   DOI
70 Zangl, G. (2002), "Stratified flow over a mountain with a gap: Linear theory and numerical simulations", Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 128, 927-949.   DOI
71 Belusic, D., Zagar, M. and Grisogono, B. (2007), "Numerical simulation of pulsations in the bora wind", Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 133, 1371-1388.   DOI
72 Barry, R.G. (1992), Mountain Weather and Climate-2nd Ed., Routledge Publishing Company, London and New York.
73 Bastin, S. and Drobinski, P. (2005), "Temperature and wind velocity oscillations along a gentle slope during sea-breeze events", Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 114, 573-594.   DOI
74 Belusic, D., Pasaric, M. and Orlic, M. (2004), "Quasi-periodic bora gusts related to the structure of the troposphere", Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 130, 1103-1121.   DOI
75 Burlando, M., De Gaetano, P., Pizzo, M., Repetto, M.P., Solari, G. and Tizzi, M. (2013), "Wind climate analysis in complex terrains", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 123, 349-362.   DOI
76 Bond, N.A., Dierking, C.F. and Doyle, J.D. (2006), "Research Aricraft and Wind Profiler Observations in Gastineau Channel during a Taku Wind Event", Weather Forecast., 21, 489-501.   DOI
77 Bougeault, P., Blinder, P., Buzzi, A., Dirks, R., Houze, R.A., Kuettner, J., Smith, R.B., Steinacker, R. and Volkert, H. (2001), "The MAP special observing period", Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 82, 433-462.   DOI